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Album Reviews
I've never heard
anyone rave about these guys’ first CD, but Flying is an absolutely
essential album for anyone who is a Christian hard core fan. At times
quite hard rock, at times definitely grungy, Grammatrain have got a
mostly original sound that just makes you need to jump around and yell a
lot. They do the quite-mellow-verse-hard-out-chorus thing really
impressively, and are musically very tight and soulful. I find a lot of
3 pieces have a distinctive 3 piece "we need an extra
guitarist" sound, but Grammatrain are always full and complete. Of
course, that’s probably because most of the time they use two guitars
anyway, but that’s beside the point.
Production is great (love that distorted bass), and the lyrics, although
once in a while depressing without adequate reason, nonetheless convey
that there are hearts going on strong for God driving this group.
Red Dwarf fans check out the "Thank-yous" at the end.
Standout Tracks: Pain, Jonah, Less of Me, Flying, Found in You, For Me -
hey, they ALL rock I tell you
~ Steve Heap
(AMP Reviewer)
What an excellent Power
Trio! I'd never even heard of Grammatrain before this...better late than
never! In my opinion, they've got a bit of early Soundgarden in them.
Very good, original tunes with an edgy three-piece sound. The vocals fit
perfectly, and there's some very unique music in this release. The only
stumble comes with "Peace", which is a compilation of about 3
chords and no originality. Luckily, it's followed up with
"Pain", on the other end of the spectrum. It's a great example
of "Rock" music...they follow no one on several tracks. The
production value is very good, and this is another example of three
musicians who know their instruments, and the sound they're trying to
obtain as a whole.
~ Bob Lewerke
Grammatrain is probably the one and only group I've ever heard that managed to combine the religous message of other christian music groups with the seattle-grunge sound of such greats as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, and their like. It's an odd combo, you may think, but one that works masterfully, especially on "Pain", "Fuse" and "Flying". Grammatrain is a group that deserves far more attention then they've
received, and this cd is why.
I like Grammatrain a lot. Two years ago I saw them in concert, they were really good, intense and hard driving ... to bad they broke up. I've had this cd for a long time. They contain their own style, which I say is good. Their lyrics are really good. I think if they were around they would go somewhere with their music. Well basically I can say that this album is one you should add to your music collection. These guys are good. So if you want an excellent recorded and produced cd, buy it!
See Grammatrain's video for "Peace"
Interviews
walkonwater
jesusfreakhideout.com
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Grace Hotel
Overall rating:
+ + + -
Lonely house
1 She Don't Know
2 Psycho
3 Jerky Love Song
4 Apathy
5 Believe
6 Sick of Wil
7 Humanity
8 Execution
9 Need
10 Down
11 Lonely House
12 Undivine Election
13 Picture Pains
Album Review
Why do the best bands always have to break up? I found out about grammatrain
about a year ago while looking for good christian music on amazon. What I found
blew me away. I never knew christian music had its own Soundgarden, one of my
favorite secular bands. Grammatrain has awsome, UNDERSTANDABLE lyrics and some
of the most solid rock/grunge music I have ever heard. I own both Lonely House
and Flying, and while I love them both, Lonely house would have to be my
favorite. The thing that makes grammatrain so unique among Christian artists is
their style of music. Christian music used to be totally pop music. Then a few
bands decided to break off from that image. Some went to a kind of
"power-pop/light rock" style (Third Day, DC Talk, Newsboys, etc.),
while the rest went to the complete other side of the road to all-out hardcore
rock. I thought that there was no middle until I found Grammatrain that day.
They figured out that seemingly unknown fact that you can have a solid rock
sound without yelling the lyrics AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS. Then, as soon as they
came, they were gone. But... we still have these albums to remember them by. I
would strongly recommend both albums, especially Lonely House. It is one of the
best rock albums I have ever heard, Christian or Secular. Strongly recommended.
~ oetam
This is the second opportunity I’ve had to experience a
release by these guys (the first being “Flying”), and while they’re may be a
very slight dropoff, this is still a very fine effort. “She Don’t Know” kicks off with plenty of energy, sounding a lot like early-mid Offspring. This hard driving tempo carries throughout the entire recording, maintaining that “Soundgarden” feel. I found “Lonely House” to be a bit more raw…the vocals intense, the bass line with a hint of distortion, guitars as edgy as ever, and more aggressive
percussion. Speed isn’t necessarily the rule here…they slow it down nicely, but not in a slow-dancing kind of way. The tempos range from 100 miles per hour, down to freight train,while maintaining their own style and sound. Like nothing you’ve ever heard before? Not really, but musically constructed so as to sink the hook and maintain interest in future releases.
~Bob Lewerke
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