grandson is an artist I discovered (as usual) through Mike Shinoda, partially due to a playlist he put out featuring artists he has been listening to as well as his recent feature on "Running From My Shadow" from Shinoda's new album.
"Blood // Water" was the first song I heard of grandson's, and I found myself really intrigued by the variety of sounds and influences. On this song and throughout the album, you can find a mashing of rock, rap, EDM, and more, which reminds me of Linkin Park in their early days (in an obviously more modern setting).
But, what makes grandson stand out to me is the lyrical content. Over tracks with huge energy, raging guitars and thumping beats, grandson lashes out at the system and problems common in America today. Political music feels like something that has fallen to the wayside, despite there being plenty of issues to focus on. grandson manages to incorporate anger, rage, and melancholy in his songs both lyrically and instrumentally in a way that does not feel cliche or cheap. The lyrical content complements and enhances the music, in a way I haven't heard in a long time - perhaps since Rage Against The Machine (who seem to have been an influence for him).
I think another aspect that stands out to me about grandson is his combination of rap and rock. This is not something that's new, or even that relevant anymore - the rise of nu-metal came and went almost 20 years ago. What feels fresh is the way in which he combines the genres. His guitar parts have clear classic/hard rock influences, big distorted lines that are super gritty in comparison to the booming, sharp trap beats they roar over. While I have said in previous reviews that I'm not super big on trap, this is definitely an instance where it works really, really well.
Apart from "Despicable", it seems to me that most of the songs are politically based in the lyrical content. "Blood // Water" addresses corruption and the cost of it (perhaps more directly addressing the water contamination situation that Flint, Michigan has been facing for years), with lines like:
"The price of your greed
is your son and your daughter"
or
"You poisoned me just for
Another dollar in your pocket".
"Stick Up" is more centered around middle to lower class America, with the 2008 recession that cost a lot of people jobs and destabilized people's families and lives. It specifically goes through the story of "Tommy", with the first verse summarizing his situation:
"Now, Tommy's a good father
Of two sons and a daughter
But he wakes up and he asks himself:
"Why even bother?"
If he cannot feed his family
The wage he's paid, it's insanity
Every day he's dealing with a new calamity".
He's clearly not someone who is in an easy situation - trouble seems to be assailing him on all sides. The song tackles the fictional path that Tommy takes, feeling as though he has nowhere left to turn except to take action against the very people responsible for the economic downturn in a violent manner. While it's not the best solution to the problem, it demonstrates the level of anger and frustration people who live in Tommy's shoes might feel and the only path they can see left.
"6:00" and "Overdose" have political tones as well, but feel a bit more specific than the previous songs. "6:00" tackles the police brutality that has risen in the public eye in recent years, specifically referencing the death of Eric Garner at the hands of a police officer with the first half of the chorus:
"How can we stand by?
Yesterday, I turned on the TV
I saw another man down
He was screaming
He can't breathe no more".
The first line also touches on the apathy that seems to be prevalent with people’s reaction to the news and the terrible things happening. It’s a tough situation - seeing that something is clearly wrong, yet having an inability to act or create change. Often, I think people feel as though they can’t make a difference, that they can’t bring about change to the system or cycle that is occurring, so they choose to ignore it or not act.
“Overdose” is about drug use and the way in which it can spiral downwards, especially when they’re used to ignore or block out the problems and struggles of life. The first verse sets the tone from the start:
“I'm trying to feel like a rockstar, but
I can't just do one now, no
I've been way to numb now”
Drug use can start small, start simply, but ends up leaving the user feeling far worse than they would have been without the drugs. It was only a distraction from the reality of things, and can’t help you escape from that which you’re hiding from.
Now, the lyrical content is incredibly important and relevant to political and social discussions, but it also has such an impact because of the instrumentals over which grandson rages against the system. Like I mentioned before, there are elements of hip-hop/rap, rock and EDM in all the songs, but in different amounts and blends. Some songs have a heavier rap/trap influence, while others lean more into the EDM influence, and the classic/hard rock guitar prevails throughout all. "Overdose" is easily the most trap oriented, both in the instrumental and the vocals, which works for the lyrical content. "Stick Up" and "6:00" both lean heavily into their guitar parts, where as "Despicable" and "Blood // Water" give these huge, satisfying drops for the chorus. While some of these elements may, in concept, sound overdone or trendy, grandson manages to do it in a way that magnifies the fire and fury of his words. The EP, though short, is a non-stop ride of thrills, getting you on your feet, fired up, and ready to make a change. That's the beauty of it - it's meaningful music that still manages to make you want to head-bang and rock out.
For a debut, this EP is remarkable. The quality and range of music and content on this release is so engaging, leaving you thinking about it long after the music ends. grandson reveals his potential, and I sincerely believe is an artist to watch; he has only just begun.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended: "Blood // Water","Despicable", "6:00"
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