Grown Ups – More Songs

In many ways I’m still trying to grapple with exactly how to approach Chicago’s Grown Ups.  I want to say that their mashed combination of harmony and dissonance is incredibly unique, but it’s been a while since bands like La Dispite, Castevet, and Sleep Bellum Sonno burst on the scene now, so I can’t help but feel that they fit quite snuggly in that emerging, as of yet unnamed genre.  But at the same time,Grown Ups’ full-length debut, More Songs, features enough unique quirks to help them stand by their own merit.

Grown Ups combine the soft and fluffy chords defining early Look Mexico, with an unapologetic drumbeat and a rough, emo-tinged vocal flare.  The result is both unpredictable and engaging.  Sometimes the resulting fusion almost feels like two tracks strategically layered on top of one another.  “Weed Science” in particular blasts open with a blistering drumbeat, and not only throws in some bubbly chords, but hits the listener with contrasting time signatures.  Some will like it, others will love it, and I’m pretty sure there will be those that hate it.  I fall slightly above the like designation, with many of the tracks still growing on me after each successive listen.

But before I get carried away with talk of discord, I should mention that melody also plays an important role.  In fact, melody is the one thing that keeps the whole project from blowing wide open.  There are even times, like on “Johnny Edward” where drums and guitars harmonize.  Think of it like a well matched tug of war.  Each camp achieves moments of momentum, but everything has a habit of balancing out despite situational extremes.

At present, the only thing holding Grown Ups back is their hooks.  While tracks like “Three Day Weekend” include gang vocals and sing along choruses, they tend to fade from memory rather quickly.  By no means are the songs generic; they just need that little something extra to push them into memory.  But based on the strength of the debut, it’s likely only a matter of time before Grown Ups elevate their game and rise to the occasion.

On a final note, someone really needs to coin a succinct designation for this whole harmony meets despondence trend.  “Post-punk” might be an easy out, but as far as I’m concerned, that refers to the likes of Brand New and Thrice.  Grown Ups are nothing like those bands, instead they emerge alongside a growing body of experimental groups.  If you’ve already bought into this emerging genre, then Grown Ups are for you; and if not, Grown Ups is as good as any of their peers, making More Songs a recommendable starting place.