released December 13, 2011

.
preview and/or download 10 tracks off of the debut vinyl LP 'Stone Street' on Psychic Volt Records!


"Performing a series of songs that dissect the miserable state of the current world without sounding like a nightmarish downer is quite an achievement, and The Grains do it here. Stone Street is ten songs of folk-inspired rock, but there is much more happening here. With flashes of swagger, grit, and power, this Jersey outfit brings an edge to rootsy Americana. “Geraldine” swings with limitless excitement and would have had the ear of Alan Freed, while the dense “Mercenary Pallbearer” is more musically obtuse and includes lyrics that should resonate with nearly everyone, “I can’t believe I can’t afford gas”. The core of the band is a group of five multi-faceted players. Scott Kenny and Mike Regrets lead the way on guitar, while bassist Andrew Edelhauser, drummer Blake Larsen, and keyboardist Dragana Drobnjak warmly envelope them. Accompanying this talented bunch are the Mercenary Horns who, while used sparingly, illuminate each song on which they appear, especially the groove-fueled “Hang On”. The gang vocals of “Beer Cans and Chicken Bones” give the tune a basement show vibe that ideally suits this band, while the guitar squall and energized tempo of “Dreams” can place this band as readily in a dank punk club as a hootenanny, as The Grains continue its harsh critique of contemporary society (“apathetic minds is what passes for evolution”). The ability to move so smoothly between warm, feel good story-telling hymns and rough evaluations of America’s shortcomings without sacrificing polish is remarkably impressive. Treat yourself to this and enjoy." ~ Rich Quinlan, Jersey Beat (www.jerseybeat.com/quinlan-chronicles.html)



"Wow, ex-Measure dudes playing, like, Americana? Stone Street’s got its many-tentacled arms in folk, bluegrass, an occasional Murder City Devils swagger, and even a whimsical, story-telling quality akin to The Decemberists or something. Very interesting. A five-piece, dense with piano, harmonica, horns, and with a few vocalists at work, the sound is rich and varied. While the previous description might make it sound a little schizophrenic, there’s an undercurrent of solidity here; the songs never lose sight of themselves. This is also a beautifully physical record—heavy chipboard packaging, an accompanying zine, and possibly the most striking piece of colored vinyl I’ve seen in some years. I was not expecting this at all, but goddamn, it’s a nice surprise. It’s clear, especially on songs like “Mio Secolo,” with its compacted structure and story-like quality, that much of Stone Street will take repeated listens to discover and unfurl. That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to. A challenging piece of music in some ways, but a recommended one." –Keith Rosson, Razorcake (www.razorcake.org/record-reviews/grains-the-stone-street)



"Billed as “indie folk” but really more of a sonic rugrat squeezed out by ’80s L.A. cow-punk merchants like Green on Red, mid-period X, and The Blasters, and I’d rather listen to this than any of those mayors and city councilmen in that desolate village made up of the collective discount bins the world over. There’s a purity to, and a vague set of balls behind, making this sort of “beer, regrets, western-wear and urban surroundings” roots-rock in real-time 2012, if not a respectable aroma of not-giving-a-fuck. If this is your occasional or full-time cup of whatever, chances are this will be right up your alley-cat. “Tri-splatter green vinyl” is limited to 200 copies, though more are available on black." - Andrew Earles, Still Single (still-single.tumblr.com/post/33160895713/the-grains-stone-street-lp-psychic-volt)



****************************
side a:

the Lift
Geraldine
Broken Man
Mercenary Pallbearer
Beer Cans & Chicken Bones

side b:

Dreams
Bourbonomics
Hang On
54 Astral Weeks
Mio Secolo

*****************************

the Grains:
Dragana Drobnjak- keys, bells, vocals
Andrew 'Big A' - bass, vocals
Scott Kenny - guitar, harmonica, vocals
Blake Larsen - drums, percussion, engineer
Mike Regrets - guitars, vocals



the Mercenary Horns:
Darren Golda - alto sax
James Kelly - trombone
David Rappaport - trumpet

recorded by Blake Larsen and Brian Huggins at Ground One Studio, Lambertville NJ
mixed by Blake Larsen
mastered by Darren Golda at Bear Bones
art by Lovecraft Press
c. May - Sept, 2011


FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/thegrainsusa

ORDER VINYL: www.psychicvolt.com