There is much that's admirable about
the Grip Weeds' fourth album
Giant on the Beach, but nothing groundbreaking. There's a more assured mastery of elements of sounds by
the Beatles (particularly in their
Revolver era) and
the Who (in the guitar work) than there is in most early 21st century bands who look toward those influences. Kristin Pinell's guitar work is particularly polished and confident, also inserting references to (though not actual quotes from) the guitar work from
the Byrds' at their most psychedelic. The vocal harmonies have a spot-on shade of melancholy, the guitar sounds are multi-textured and varied, and organs and Mellotron help this avoid guitar power pop cliché. The Byrds of 1966-1967, the forward thrust of
the Who, and the Mellotron all come together on "Midnight Sun," one of the best tracks. Still, the songs, which tend toward shadowy questioning and reflecting -- the most modern aspect of the material -- aren't all that exceptional. As much variety as is evident in this mixture, here's a vote to let Pinell take more vocals; she does well with her one lead here ("Closer to Love"), and it helps not only to give the record more dimension, but also to help set
the Grip Weeds further apart from the numerous (and usually male-dominated) bands working in this style. ~ Richie Unterberger