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Grand Champeen | Dial "T" for This (In Music We Trust) |
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Written by Brad Proctor
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Wednesday, 21 March 2007 |
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 It's tasteful but not terribly
innovative; sweet but never cloying; endearing and enjoyable.
The press release for Grand
Champeen's newest album, Dial "T" for
This quotes frontman Channing Lewis claiming, "the most important thing to
note about this record is that we recorded and mixed it to tape, without the
aid of ProTools or any editing software." That is slightly unfortunate, for
never should the production techniques of an album completely outweigh the content
of the finished product. Especially given the self-evident strengths of Dial "T" for This, a driving,
hook-driven, straight-ahead rock album that is both catchy and memorable.
Grand Champeen manage to combine
a wide range of musical influences, from shining Brit pop to distorted roots
rock, while still achieving a cohesive sound. It's tasteful but not terribly
innovative; sweet but never cloying; endearing and enjoyable. The album never
slows down to allow much breath to seep in. The most plodding song on the disc
is "Olivia," the album closer, which can't be considered anything slower than
midtempo. There's also not a great deal of immediate emotional gravity. That's
not necessarily a flaw. Grand Champeen's forte lies in hard, driving rock songs
with occasion soaring pop hooks. Maybe the best on the album, "Cities on the
Plain," combines grungy verses with a memorable chorus of pure dance pop. "Nice
of You to Join Us" and "Gonna Be the Death of Me" are also pitch perfect pop whose
melodies and harmonies remain lodged in your brain longer than the words
themselves.
It may be notable that all of
the guitar solos were played live, and that the drum beats were actually struck
by the drummer in the studio. But as opposed to stressing the ways in which Dial "T" for This was produced, Grand
Champeen should be most proud of the fact that they've created a tight, driving
record that perfectly bridges rock and pop without compromising either. B | Brad Proctor
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