Sebastien Grainger and The Mountains – Self Titlted Review
Sebastien Grainger for the rest of his career will always be compared for his work with Jesse Keeler and the duo that was Death From Above 1979. Three years removed, Keeler has gone onto be part of electro duo MSTRKRFT while Grainger has gone more onto the rock aspect of things. I first saw him back in 2007 where he and his band The Mountains played a rough set covering for the Stills. It seemed more like an awesome noise-rock outfit now. He has since rounded out the sound going from between dance punk to punk rock.
Sebastien Grainger explores (and struggles) to find his niche on this album. It’s a bit all over the place with dance songs like Renegade Silence with a noise/punk track in Niagara. The weakness to the album is pretty straightforward; there are a ton of highs but a ton of lows on this album and it’s all mushed together. As an album it’s not as strong as I would hope but Grainger is definitely very talented perhaps even more talented then Keeler (but obviously not as popular).
I also don’t understand inexplicably putting on the live version of I’m All A Rage instead of the studio version. The live version could’ve suited as a bonus track and I’m itching for a studio version because I dig the original version.
The potential that Sebastien Grainger has in my opinion and he might be able to find that magic on future releases. For now, he has a record is doesn’t show a season veteran. Either things don’t have enough meat on the bones or you wish he wouldn’t try some things. You can’t fault him too much for trying. An enjoyable album at the very least.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5
I’m All the Rage (live) by Sebastien Grainger and The Mountains
American Names by Sebastien Grainger and The Mountains
Tags: album