Grand Archives : Keep In Mind Frankenstein :: Review
If the Moody Blues dabbled in Americana, softened their psychedelic rock stylings and relocated to Washington State, you might have the harmony rich sounds of Grand Archives who follow up their debut with the mellow ride of “Keep In Mind Frankenstein.” “Keep In Mind Frankenstein” is a hazy and haunted album that features songs that would not be out of place on an episode of 70’s Nickelodeon kids show, “Dusty’s Treehouse.” How’s that for dating myself? The strummy sing-along vibes that dominate the album and remind me of that television show’s wonky atmosphere. For those that can remember the show and the creepy vibe it put off, congratulations. For the uninitiated, Grand Archives sound on “Keep In Mind Frankenstein” has a decrepit California vibe that lingers in the air like the sticky Nag Champa smoke coming from an incense burner.
“Keep In Mind Frankenstein” is a brief and somewhat odd album that comes across as Frankenstein’s monster did; a hodge podge of parts with a faux sense of uniformity. On “…Frankenstein,” Grand Archives try to meld their influences into some new creation with mixed results. The album opens with the folksy “Topsy’s Revenge” an elegy to a rogue Coney Island elephant electrocuted by Thomas Edison before leading into “Witchy Park/Tomorrow (Will Take Care Of Itself)” a breezy number that recalls a road trip with both 70’s stalwarts, America and The Eagles.
This is not the first of musical references that the band casts off as the mid album highlights of “Silver and Gold” and the pedal steel inflected “Oslo Novelist” are both reminiscent of R.E.M as well as the Moody Blues. The album gets overly hazy and redundant on “Lazy Bones” which seems to be spinning its wheels. It picks up again on the harmonica heavy and syncopated rhythms of “Left For All The Strays.” “Dig That Crazy Grave” features a lazy back porch groove that doesn’t jive necessarily well with the chamber pop instrumental, “Siren Echo Valley (Part 2)” that is placed near. As “Willoughby” closes the album it echoes the melody of “Topsy’s Revenge” leaving this listener wishes for a better bookend to this grab bag of song. Had Grand Archives shored up the production and track listing, this “Frankenstein” would be more than the sum of its parts.
Rating: 
