San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
Gran Sasso
Stand There and Take It
No Matter What EP
(self-released)
Here’s what you’ll hear when listening to Gran Sasso’s new EP: Jesus Lizard, Tool, The Dead Kennedys, Social Distortion, Fugazi, Jimmy Eat World, Against Me!, Rise Against, Fishbone, early Red Hot Chili Peppers, Future of the Left and Pavement.
Here’s what you won’t hear on Stand There: an ounce of originality.
It might be unfair to judge this newish band by what could be considered clear influences. But if they can’t channel those influences into something less referential, then their music is fair game for a bad review. Take the first track, “Hey! We Don’t Care”: The opening bass line and drums hint at what will surely be some kind of killer jam once the guitars and vocals kick in, but then the song turns into a snotty punk freak-out. OK, got it—you want to keep people on their toes. But following it up with the borderline emo of “Machine Gun” and the punkabilly-styled “We Got a Message” only says that this band doesn’t know yet what it wants to be. Often, this EP feels more like a compilation of similar-sounding bands who were all on the same label.
There are hints of better things to come on the closing track “A Note on the Floor,” a subdued hard-rock song with killer bass and creepy guitar build-ups that climax into stoney psychedelia. But unless you’re an 18-year-old with ADD whose idea of a good time is showing up early to a SOMA Sidestage show, then this EP is only going to fluster you.
Gran Sasso’s Facebook says the band is “subtle as a brick,” which is apt, considering that jamming a brick into to your ear and listening to it will be just as rewarding.
Gran Sasso opens for Irradio and Sleep Lady at Soda Bar on Friday, Nov. 18.
