Without a doubt, one of the more important gentlemen to lend a hand in the creation of what we affectionately know as "grunge" is
Jack Endino, who as a producer, oversaw such landmark releases by
Nirvana (
Bleach),
Soundgarden (
Screaming Life), and
Mudhoney (
Superfuzz Bigmuff), among others. But
Endino is quite an accomplished musician himself -- as evidenced by his work with prog-grungers
Skin Yard, his solo albums, and as of late, as a member of
Kandi Coded. On
Kandi Coded's sophomore effort, 2010‘s
Fell for the Gift, the group (which also features renowned snowboarder Jamie Lynn on lead vocals and guitar) certainly reflects what made the grunge movement a much-welcomed arrival in the early ‘90s -- the sound of real musicians playing real instruments in a sweaty, dirty room -- all together at the same time. What a novel idea (especially in such a ProTools obsessed era)! "Skate punk meets grunge" is a fitting description for several tracks here -- especially such adrenaline-rushers as "Step Outside" (a song that would sound splendid in a skateboarding/snowboarding video). But by and large,
Fell for the Gift is a big, snarling, loud 'n' proud slab of grunge, especially on such standouts as "Walk Away," "Fell for the Gift," and "Can't Forget You." With the nostalgic hair metal revival of the early 21st century dragging on, it would be something if grunge rises once again to set us all straight. And as evidenced by such a strong, unashamedly grunge-y release as
Kandi Coded's
Fell for the Gift, it would serve as a most-welcomed arrival.