Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains
"fuck-rock"
Location: Ontario
Website: http://myspace.com/sebastiengrainger
Bio: Sebastien Grainger is best known for cutting his teeth as the drummer and vocalist for Death From Above 1979, the Canadian dance-punk duo who rose ... (more)
to prominence in 2004. Grainger had been biding his time since DFA 1979 parted, but now releases his full length solo LP ‘Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains’, out on Saddle Creek in March 2009.
Grainger has used the break to readjust and refocus on the music he wanted to make: “I relearned how to be a musician and a songwriter” he explains. The result is an extraordinarily muscular and soulful rock album that will surprise anyone expecting him to re-live his past. Teeming with big chords and soaring choruses, Grainger has lost none of the driving propulsion that characterised DFA 1979, but coupled it with thunderingly sexy rock ‘n’ roll.
This record showcases Grainger’s talent for writing huge, catchy anthems, whilst retaining enough light and shade to result in a classic rock album.
Standout tracks “I Hate My Friends”, “By Cover of Night (Fire Fight)” and album opener “Love Can Be So Mean” are all bass heavy monsters, climaxing into irresistible choruses. In contrast “Love is Not a Contest” starts with soulful crooning over twinkling piano keys and “(Are There) Ways to Come Home?” is a humble, pensive ballad that builds to a killer finale.
Backed by his relentless live band - comprised of bassist Nick Sewell, guitarist and keyboardist Andrew Scott, and drummer Leon Taheny - Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains are fast gaining a reputation for being one of the most exhilarating live acts around, as witnessed at this year’s CMJ festival. “The live performance is something that’s new every night, and it changes,” Grainger says. “I thought I was going to put out a pretty passive record, but it’s this kind of unruly rock.”
Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains is the kind of record that sits as easily next to the ballsy rock of Queens of the Stone Age and AC/DC as it does the early ‘70s swagger of Bowie/T-Rex.
Expect to hear these songs being played very loudly soon.
Band:
Sebastien Grainger - guitar and vocals
Nick Sewell - bass
Leon Taheny - drums
Andrew Scott - keyboard
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