Grinning Streak

[Phenom_85]

So, for anyone who still checks this guild, it's been over a month since the new album Grinning Streak came out. Just wondering what everyone thinks of it. I personally like it. It's some of their best work since Steve left the band.  

[Ulfin]

I just realized that I never posted my thoughts, musings, and analysis on Grinning Streak. I shall now remedy that! Here goes...

BLOWN.AWAY!!! LOVE.IT!!! PURE.WIN!!!

*pauses for a moment to regain composure*

Now that that's over with...I really enjoyed the album! A lot. It's very "pop", which is quite a bit of a departure from the last decade or so of their music catalogue.

I spent a good chunk of my tax return on the the album's special edition package. It came with a physical copy of the CD, a poster, and a BnL 25th anniversary hockey jersey. Only 50 of those were ever made!

On to a song-by-song...thing...

Limits - The record kicks off with a very "in your face" different-style song. There was so much electronic instrumentation in it that the first time I listened to it, I was a little apprehensive of what was to come on the rest of the album. This one quickly grew on me, though.

Boomerang - I was one of the first people in the world to ever hear this song! They debuted it at their first concert on the 2012 Last Summer on Earth Tour at the Toledo Zoo (where I work). However, I heard it earlier in the day. Being the dutiful and diligent worker that I am, I quickly abandoned my job educating visitors to walk over to sound check. I'm such a good role model for my staff.

I absolutely love this song. The "boomerang" is such a fun metaphor. I'm still genuinely surprised that this song didn't become a hit.

Off His Head - What the...? I'm not even going to hazard a guess as to what this sing is about. I like it, though. Yep. I can't really think of anything else to say about this one.

Gonna Walk - This is such a fun song. I love how it's got a bit of an old-time vibe to it.

Odds Are - Damn! This one is amazing! It makes me so happy! I get so annoyed with the doom and gloom mindset that so many people (and especially the media) seem to have. People are so focused on all the negative things that happen or that could happen. Like the song say, "Sure, things go wrong...but odds are, we're gonna be alright". WHY WASN'T THIS SONG HUGE?! It should have been.

The music video was great too. You have to watch it twice to fully appreciate it (once to just watch what's going on and once to read the news ticker at the bottom).

On the Maroon tour, they used to joke about how Too Little Too Late should have been nominated for a Grammy for "Best performance by a duo or group with vocal...and handclaps!". I think this one has TLTL beaten on that front. *Handclapping intensifies!*

Keepin' it Real - Man, this one is different! Very dark and sinister sounding. Interesting.

Give it Back to You - Ah, yes. We couldn't have an album without the slightly sappy, lovey song! Gah! I love this one. I can't help it! I'm a sucker for "nice" songs.

Best Damn Friend - Not gonna lie...this is by far my least favorite song on the album. It's just so repetitive...I feel like it could have been a few minutes shorter than it is and not have suffered. I don't understand why this made the album and Who Knew didn't (more on that one later!).

Did I say That Out Loud? - Yet another super-fun song! It's almost impossible for me to not sing along with this one. Great stuff!

I like the (what I imagine to be) slight jab at Steve Page during the bridge ("if I try to write about it, someone's gonna dis me"). Steve was rather critical of BnL's lead-off single, You Run Away, from All In Good Time. I remember several rude and sarcastic comments regarding the lyrics that he posted on Twitter a few years ago. Ed is a very emotional songwriter...that seems to be how he deals with difficult situations. I just thought it was really petty of Steve to do that. The lyrics weren't condemning or anything, that's just how he writes...Whoops...I strayed from the topic at hand...back to Grinning Streak!

Daydreamin' - Finally, some Kevin Hearn! I love the cheerful-sounding keyboards in this one! I also love the frantic strumming on the jangly 12-string guitar toward the end of the song!

This was apparently a song that Kevin started writing more than twenty years ago, but had never gotten around to finishing. I glad he finally did!

Smile - BANJO!!! I HEAR A BANJO!!! And is that a melodica?! YES!!!

Musically, this is one of my favorites on the album. Lyrically, this is also one of my favorites on the album. This is one of my favorites on the album.

Crawl - Absolutely beautiful. This one blows me away. I love Ed's explanation of the lyrics.

And now, we come to the bonus tracks!

Blacking Out - This one reminds me a bit of I have Learned and How Long from All In Good Time. It's a bit heavier than your typical BnL song. I didn't really care for this one at first, but I'm liking it more than I did.

Fog of Writing - I can't help but get the feeling that this one is also about Steve's acrimonious departure from the band. Maybe I'm reading too far into it. Maybe not.

Who Knew - RIGHT THERE!!! JIM CREEGGAN!!! Once again, knocking it out of the park. I love Jim's songwriting! And his voice! WHY THE HELL WAS THIS NOT ON THE ALBUM?! Like I mentioned earlier, Best Damn Friend, a relatively boring song, made the album and this didn't. WHAT.THE.HELL?! I don't understand that at all. AT.ALL. That will never cease to boggle my mind.


Overall, I enjoyed the hell out of this album! So many great songs! It's probably their lightest and most "fun" album since Stunt.

However, I was a little disappointed by the lack of variety on the album. AIGT (including the bonus tracks) saw five Kevin songs, three from Jim, and the rest from Ed. Grinning Streak only had one song apiece from Kevin and Jim (and Jim's didn't even make the album...WHY?!).

There. I did it. And it only took me a little over a year-and-a-half to get around to it! Go me! *facepalm*