Grouplove — Big Mess (September 9, 2016) |
Grouplove — Big Mess (September 9, 2016)
≡♦≡ L.A.–based indie rockers who occupy the middle ground between the quirky staccato attack of Modest Mouse and the spirited roar of Arcade Fire. © Hannah Hooper of Grouplove performing live at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on September 17, 2013 Author Chad Elder
Formed: 2009 in Los Angeles, CA
Location: Los Angeles, California
Genres: Indie rock indie pop synthpop alternative rock alternative dance
Album release: September 9, 2016
Record Label: Atlantic
Duration: 40:05
Tracks:
01 Welcome to Your Life 3:48
02 Do You Love Someone 3:51
03 Standing in the Sun 4:16
04 Enlighten Me 3:53
05 Good Morning 3:40
06 Spinning 4:02
07 Cannonball 3:18
08 Traumatized 3:00
09 Heart of Mine 3:16
10 Don’t Stop Making It Happen 3:01
11 Hollywood 4:11
℗ 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. A Warner Music Group Company
Current members:
√ Christian Zucconi — vocals, guitars (2009–present)
√ Hannah Hooper — vocals, keyboards (2009–present)
√ Andrew Wessen — guitars, vocals (2009–present)
√ Ryan Rabin — drums, other (2009–present)
√ Daniel Gleason — bass (2014–present)
Credits:
√ Neil Avron Mixing
√ Greg Calbi Mastering
√ Captain Cuts Producer
√ Phil Ek Engineer, Mixing, Producer
√ Dan Gleason Bass
√ Grouplove Composer
√ Brian Harris Assistant Engineer
√ Hannah Hooper Keyboards, Vocals
√ Sean Lane Technician
√ Adam Lathrum Engineer
√ Cameron Nicklaus Assistant Engineer
√ Ryan Rabin Drums
√ Scott Skrzynski Mixing Engineer
√ Andrew Wessen Guitar, Vocals
√ Christian Zucconi Guitar, Vocals
Review
By Jaymz Clements | September 8th, 2016 4:39:PM EST | Score: ***½
≡♦≡ Grouplove might seem like a bunch of bad indie–hippy ideals come to life — pastels, stripes, long hair, hats — but among the twee dickishness there’s a really good pop band. Big Mess is just that: a mash of hyperactive indie–pop that tries its hardest to grab your attention. And it’s hard not to be charmed by Grouplove when they loose the hands–in–the–air bubblegum indie rock of “Traumatized” or the goofy singalong of “Do You Love Someone”. Luckily it succeeds more than it fails — see the pure island–pop shine of “Good Morning” — and even if they trade in memorable pop songs that are almost instantly forgettable, their pep–rally indie pop hides some satisfying darkness under its perma–grin exterior. ≡♦≡ http://rollingstoneaus.com/
AllMusic Review by Matt Collar; Score: ****½
≡♦≡ On their buoyant, third full–length album, 2016’s Big Mess, Los Angeles’ Grouplove continue their transformation from a kinetic, hippie–dance pop outfit into a mature, if still playful, radio–ready act. The album follows the group’s equally inspired 2013 effort Spreading Rumors, and showcases the talents of lead vocalist/guitarist Christian Zucconi, lead vocalist/keyboardist Hannah Hooper, drummer Ryan Rabin, guitarist Andrew Wessen, and bassist Daniel Gleason, who replaced Sean Gadd in 2014. Once again, Rabin (son of Yes’ Trevor Rabin) takes the production helm. However, in the spirit of transformation, the group also brought on seasoned pro Phil Elk (Band of Horses, the Shins, Built to Spill), who produced a handful of tracks. The result is that while Big Mess retains all of the band’s exuberant, over–the–top pop fun, it’s a finely honed insanity that balances the indie sensibilities of MGMT with the kooky pop lyricism of Barenaked Ladies. Also adding to the album’s emotional impact is the band’s newfound maturity in light of several years of hard touring away from home and the birth of Zucconi and Hooper’s first child. The couple’s vocal symmetry has always been a huge part of what makes Grouplove’s sound so engaging, and their growth, both personally and creatively, is evident throughout Big Mess. It’s a theme they tackle straight–away on the soaring lead–off track “Welcome to Your Life,” singing, “Been wondering, I take a chance/That chance is circumstance/‘Cause nothing ever comes without a change.” Elsewhere, cuts like the bombastic “Do You Love Someone,” “Standing in the Sun,” and the pulsing, electronic dance music–infused “Good Morning,” find the band staking out the improbable, and improbably likeable, middle ground between Katy Perry and the Pixies. Similarly, tracks like the yearning “Heart of Mine” and romantic “Enlighten Me” bring to mind an engaging mix of the Flaming Lips and Fun.. Which isn’t to say that Grouplove don’t sound like themselves here. On the contrary, they’ve simply reached the place where they are able to channel their influences through their own voice and their own experiences. Ultimately, by celebrating those life experiences on Big Mess, Grouplove have crafted an ecstatic, joyful album. ≡♦≡ http://www.allmusic.com/
Website: http://www.grouplovemusic.com/
≡♦≡≡♦≡≡♦≡≡♦≡__________________________________≡♦≡≡♦≡≡♦≡≡♦≡
Grouplove — Big Mess (September 9, 2016) |
Grouplove — Big Mess (September 9, 2016)
≡♦≡ L.A.–based indie rockers who occupy the middle ground between the quirky staccato attack of Modest Mouse and the spirited roar of Arcade Fire. © Hannah Hooper of Grouplove performing live at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on September 17, 2013 Author Chad Elder
Formed: 2009 in Los Angeles, CA
Location: Los Angeles, California
Genres: Indie rock indie pop synthpop alternative rock alternative dance
Album release: September 9, 2016
Record Label: Atlantic
Duration: 40:05
Tracks:
01 Welcome to Your Life 3:48
02 Do You Love Someone 3:51
03 Standing in the Sun 4:16
04 Enlighten Me 3:53
05 Good Morning 3:40
06 Spinning 4:02
07 Cannonball 3:18
08 Traumatized 3:00
09 Heart of Mine 3:16
10 Don’t Stop Making It Happen 3:01
11 Hollywood 4:11
℗ 2016 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. A Warner Music Group Company
Current members:
√ Christian Zucconi — vocals, guitars (2009–present)
√ Hannah Hooper — vocals, keyboards (2009–present)
√ Andrew Wessen — guitars, vocals (2009–present)
√ Ryan Rabin — drums, other (2009–present)
√ Daniel Gleason — bass (2014–present)
Credits:
√ Neil Avron Mixing
√ Greg Calbi Mastering
√ Captain Cuts Producer
√ Phil Ek Engineer, Mixing, Producer
√ Dan Gleason Bass
√ Grouplove Composer
√ Brian Harris Assistant Engineer
√ Hannah Hooper Keyboards, Vocals
√ Sean Lane Technician
√ Adam Lathrum Engineer
√ Cameron Nicklaus Assistant Engineer
√ Ryan Rabin Drums
√ Scott Skrzynski Mixing Engineer
√ Andrew Wessen Guitar, Vocals
√ Christian Zucconi Guitar, Vocals
Review
By Jaymz Clements | September 8th, 2016 4:39:PM EST | Score: ***½
≡♦≡ Grouplove might seem like a bunch of bad indie–hippy ideals come to life — pastels, stripes, long hair, hats — but among the twee dickishness there’s a really good pop band. Big Mess is just that: a mash of hyperactive indie–pop that tries its hardest to grab your attention. And it’s hard not to be charmed by Grouplove when they loose the hands–in–the–air bubblegum indie rock of “Traumatized” or the goofy singalong of “Do You Love Someone”. Luckily it succeeds more than it fails — see the pure island–pop shine of “Good Morning” — and even if they trade in memorable pop songs that are almost instantly forgettable, their pep–rally indie pop hides some satisfying darkness under its perma–grin exterior. ≡♦≡ http://rollingstoneaus.com/
AllMusic Review by Matt Collar; Score: ****½
≡♦≡ On their buoyant, third full–length album, 2016’s Big Mess, Los Angeles’ Grouplove continue their transformation from a kinetic, hippie–dance pop outfit into a mature, if still playful, radio–ready act. The album follows the group’s equally inspired 2013 effort Spreading Rumors, and showcases the talents of lead vocalist/guitarist Christian Zucconi, lead vocalist/keyboardist Hannah Hooper, drummer Ryan Rabin, guitarist Andrew Wessen, and bassist Daniel Gleason, who replaced Sean Gadd in 2014. Once again, Rabin (son of Yes’ Trevor Rabin) takes the production helm. However, in the spirit of transformation, the group also brought on seasoned pro Phil Elk (Band of Horses, the Shins, Built to Spill), who produced a handful of tracks. The result is that while Big Mess retains all of the band’s exuberant, over–the–top pop fun, it’s a finely honed insanity that balances the indie sensibilities of MGMT with the kooky pop lyricism of Barenaked Ladies. Also adding to the album’s emotional impact is the band’s newfound maturity in light of several years of hard touring away from home and the birth of Zucconi and Hooper’s first child. The couple’s vocal symmetry has always been a huge part of what makes Grouplove’s sound so engaging, and their growth, both personally and creatively, is evident throughout Big Mess. It’s a theme they tackle straight–away on the soaring lead–off track “Welcome to Your Life,” singing, “Been wondering, I take a chance/That chance is circumstance/‘Cause nothing ever comes without a change.” Elsewhere, cuts like the bombastic “Do You Love Someone,” “Standing in the Sun,” and the pulsing, electronic dance music–infused “Good Morning,” find the band staking out the improbable, and improbably likeable, middle ground between Katy Perry and the Pixies. Similarly, tracks like the yearning “Heart of Mine” and romantic “Enlighten Me” bring to mind an engaging mix of the Flaming Lips and Fun.. Which isn’t to say that Grouplove don’t sound like themselves here. On the contrary, they’ve simply reached the place where they are able to channel their influences through their own voice and their own experiences. Ultimately, by celebrating those life experiences on Big Mess, Grouplove have crafted an ecstatic, joyful album. ≡♦≡ http://www.allmusic.com/
Website: http://www.grouplovemusic.com/
≡♦≡≡♦≡≡♦≡≡♦≡__________________________________≡♦≡≡♦≡≡♦≡≡♦≡