Send "Grand Archives " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 On their highly enjoyable 2008 debut, Grand Archives passed a very, very narrow test: They integrated rootsy influences from both the PacNW indie and Southern country to honor the Band of Horses connection (singer Mat Brooke is an alumnus), but by leaning towards the AM gold side of the dial, they managed to avoid being redundant. Now Grand Archives aim to make a record that can be defined on its own terms. The resulting disc, Keep in Mind Frankenstein, arguably does a good job of establishing a more singular sound for the band, but I'm not so sure their confidence is applied to the right things.Brooke's voice is nice enough, sort of like a Listerine breath strip-- oddly sweet, papery, and prone to dissolving on contact. On Grand Archives, it proved capable of delivering loopy but ingratiating melodies while exploring some of Sub Pop's more welcoming artistic avenues. Frankenstein occasionally reprises what made its predecessor successful-- "Oslo Novelist" and "Left for All the Strays" play like folky, half-speed power pop with tightly-strung acoustic chords, trebly leads, and Brooke's corkscrewing vocal lines. But as the tempos slog and the hooks soften in the service of a more uniform mood, those moments feel like brief respites of vigor amidst a record whose pacing feels awfully pokey for something that's barely over a half-hour long. Whatever menace gets conveyed in the repetitious invocation, "Someday I will come back," from "Topsy's Revenge" is overshadowed by a weary arrangement, little more than plinking acoustic strums in a dragging tempo. "Witchy Park/Tomorrow Will (Take Care of Itself)" builds to a cyclical, beautifully melancholy refrain but takes about two minutes too many to rustle itself out of slumber, and with the exception of the aforementioned and "Dig That Crazy Grave"'s blocky percussion, most of Frankenstein just kinda sails by you. Barely-there, near-instrumentals like "Siren Echo Valley, Pt. 1" and "Willoughby" (as well as actual instrumentals like "Siren Echo Valley, Pt. 2") try to turn Brooke and Sera Cahoone's harmonies into load-bearing instruments, but they're neither strong enough harmonically nor interesting enough texturally to feel spare as opposed to merely underwritten....full text |
| Fensepost |
| Mat Brooke has come a long way since his Carissa’s Wierd project; his confidence is significant in comparison to its presence on the first Band Of Horses LP. In fact, listening to the stripped down tracks on Grand Archives‘ latest, Keep In Mind Frankenstein, (songs like opener “Topsy’s Revenge” and the near a capella “Siren Echo Valley (Part 1)”) he has gone through a major confidence boost since the group’s self-titled debut. On Keep In Mind Frankenstein, Grand Archives continue down the path of beautifully crafted, multi-vocal pop songs. “Witchy Park – Tomorrow Will (Take Care Of Itself)”, “Left For All The Strays” and “Silver Among The Gold” hold just as much sway over the listener as “Torn Blue Foam Couch” and “Sleepdriving”, if not more. Grand Archives have succeeded in crafting a near perfect pop album, adorned with some of the most pleasant harmonies one is capable of hearing. Lending backup vocals on track 6 is Carissa’s Wierd drummer (and now solo artist) Sera Cahoon, and on tracks 2, 4 and 6 is Jenn Ghetto (S, Carissa’s Wierd). Both add welcome female vocals to the harmony mix. And where Grand Archives included select tracks with a southern country feel, they once again invite Jay Kardong to lend his Pedal Steel expertise on “Oslo Novelist”, “Dig That Crazy Grave” and “Siren Echo Valley (Part 2)”....full text |
| Ventvox |
| If the Moody Blues dabbled in Americana, softened their psychedelic rock stylings and relocated to Washington State, you might have the harmony rich sounds of Grand Archives who follow up their debut with the mellow ride of “Keep In Mind Frankenstein.” “Keep In Mind Frankenstein” is a hazy and haunted album that features songs that would not be out of place on an episode of 70’s Nickelodeon kids show, “Dusty’s Treehouse.” How’s that for dating myself? The strummy sing-along vibes that dominate the album and remind me of that television show’s wonky atmosphere. For those that can remember the show and the creepy vibe it put off, congratulations. For the uninitiated, Grand Archives sound on “Keep In Mind Frankenstein” has a decrepit California vibe that lingers in the air like the sticky Nag Champa smoke coming from an incense burner. “Keep In Mind Frankenstein” is a brief and somewhat odd album that comes across as Frankenstein’s monster did; a hodge podge of parts with a faux sense of uniformity. On “…Frankenstein,” Grand Archives try to meld their influences into some new creation with mixed results. The album opens with the folksy “Topsy’s Revenge” an elegy to a rogue Coney Island elephant electrocuted by Thomas Edison before leading into “Witchy Park/Tomorrow (Will Take Care Of Itself)” a breezy number that recalls a road trip with both 70’s stalwarts, America and The Eagles....full text |
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