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Interview with Scott TaylorTake a pinch of indie-rock dissonance, add a pepper-shaker full of rock 'n' roll riffmaking, throw in a healthy dose of Delta blues, add a cup of swamp water, mix in a little Tennessee Tourist Board and you've got a unique brew that is The Grifters' very own. The critically-acclaimed Memphis band's second LP (4th overall) for SubPop Records, Full Blown Possession, runs the gamut of post-modern rock moves; byTake a pinch of indie-rock dissonance, add a pepper-shaker full of rock 'n' roll riffmaking, throw in a healthy dose of Delta blues, add a cup of swamp water, mix in a little Tennessee Tourist Board and you've got a unique brew that is The Grifters' very own. The critically-acclaimed Memphis band's second LP (4th overall) for SubPop Records, Full Blown Possession, runs the gamut of post-modern rock moves; by turns muscular, self-assured, dreamy, funky, sloppy, and even (believe it or not) musically reverent, this new 10-song set manages to capture the slightly-schizo, vaguely decadent feel of their historical hometown, despite a polished sound far removed from the band's early lo-fi days. You have to wonder how many more times these guys going to sneak up on people? Full Blown Possession is, like the band's 1996 CD, Ain't My Lookout, a rollocking and bittersweet ride. From the raspy lullabye, "Spaced Out" to the sexy "Happy" to the gorgeous "Sweetest Thing," the Grifters' show still more evidence of the band's low-keyed brilliance. Little wonder that some critics have been saying, for awhile now, that they are among the best rock bands currently touring their butts off in Indie Rock USA. At least they are a band not afraid to make statement. In the new disc's tongue-in-cheek liner notes, the group delivers three promises to its fans 1. We promise not to incorporate hip-hop beats in an attempt to reach a younger audience (This shouldn't be a problem because there are still so many genres to pilfer.) 2. We promise to keep touring until we have a freakish yet devoted following of drug-addled suburbanites hanging out in the parking lots at all our shows. 3. We promise not to clear up our act any more than on this record. Whey, even now we're working onways of screwing up our personal lives even more just to assure you, the listener, that the future holds even mroe songs about confusion, heartbreak and dependancy. Yay! On the eve of their big national tour,Grip's Don Harrison talked with guitarist / vocalist Scott Taylor about the band's early days, the recording of Full Blown Possession, what it's like to live under the constant shadow of Elvis, and the keeping of promises. turns muscular, self-assured, dreamy, funky, sloppy, and even (believe it or not) musically reverent, this new 10-song set manages to capture the slightly-schizo, vaguely decadent feel of their historical hometown, despite a polished sound far removed from the band's early lo-fi days. You have to wonder how many more times these guys going to sneak up on people? Full Blown Possession is, like the band's 1996 CD, Ain't My Lookout, a rollocking and bittersweet ride. From the raspy lullabye, "Spaced Out" to the sexy "Happy" to the gorgeous "Sweetest Thing," the Grifters' show still more evidence of the band's low-keyed brilliance. Little wonder that some critics have been saying, for awhile now, that they are among the best rock bands currently touring their butts off in Indie Rock USA. At least they are a band not afraid to make statement. In the new disc's tongue-in-cheek liner notes, the group delivers three promises to its fans 1. We promise not to incorporate hip-hop beats in an attempt to reach a younger audience (This shouldn't be a problem because there are still so many genres to pilfer.) 2. We promise to keep touring until we have a freakish yet devoted following of drug-addled suburbanites hanging out in the parking lots at all our shows. 3. We promise not to clear up our act any more than on this record. Whey, even now we're working onways of screwing up our personal lives even more just to assure you, the listener, that the future holds even mroe songs about confusion, heartbreak and dependancy. Yay! On the eve of their big national tour,Grip's Don Harrison talked with guitarist / vocalist Scott Taylor about the band's early days, the recording of Full Blown Possession, what it's like to live under the constant shadow of Elvis, and the keeping of promises.
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