Gravity Won't Get You High

Life has been occupied with study and audition preparation, so I have not been blogging as regular as I would like to. I was sent a digital copy of The Grates' Gravity Won't Get You High some time ago. I added the tracks into my playlist, and just let them play on shuffle mode, only until recently I gave the album a proper listen.

The sudden surge of female-led rock bands seems to be inescapable from north to south, UK has The Long Blondes, while Be Your Own Pet comes from US, Australia presents its very own The Grates. Gravity Won't Get You High is the three-piece Brisbane band's debut full-length, and it is a collection of abrasive, catchy little tunes. Most songs are vocal-centric, Patience Hodgson's unique voice is balanced with John Patterson's jangly riff and Alana Skyring's pounding drumbeats, all of which are a bit of the indie staple. The bright and lively musicianship engages the listeners and bring them into the music.

The album is infectiously joyous that make you want to move every minutes; but half way through the album, the formulaic crunch-and-howl and playful noisy sound seems to get a little tired. Anyway, there are far more hits than misses, and the band does fit in a little twists to showcase their versatility. A good example would be "Sukkafish" which is accessorized with banjo-plucking and fiddling. "Lies" is one of the outstanding tracks where Hodgson's eccentric vocal fits just right with simple toe-tapping punk rhythms. 19-20-20 is the perfect first single with catchy phrasings and saucy melody as "Science Is Golden" is a sheer exciting song, complete with charming harmonies and handclaps. Gravity Won't Get You High is just a pure simple fun album that sounds like the band is on a dose of happy pills while making it.

Hear them.
Lies
Sukkafish