A new choice record, courtesy of indie rock band, Scott Martin & The Grand Disaster. Their debut album, Scott Martin & The Grand Disaster, was released just this month and provides a perfect musical escape.
With a fun and vibrant sound, this album sets the scene for a classic tale of young love, memories gone by, and the hope for new adventures yet to come. The New York City natives come in strong,
The 9- track album starts off with a classic rock based jam, “Rock N’ Roll Heart” It goes “If I never see the northern lights shine in your eyes again/ I promise you babe/ I promise you I can’t forget/ How your body made me pray to God that this would never end/ This isn’t love/ But for tonight let’s just pretend.” In this track, listeners catch a first taste of Martin’s practiced vocals and garage band style.
Midway through the track list, we take a trip to Martin’s “Mexico.” The chorus plays, “Whatever we do/ Wherever we go/ We can run and we can roll/ Maybe we can go to Mexico/ Cause’ we can be young/ We can be bold/ We can be beautiful/ Maybe we can go to Mexico.” This song is a yearning for something more, beyond the simple and mundane facts of everyday life.
There’s a certain familiar charm to “Old New York” that makes this song an immediate standout. “Where did you go?/ Where are you now?/ We stood tall/ But we’re crumbling now/ We’re already gone/ Faded away/ Sometimes it’s just too little too late/ Where did you go?/ Where are you now?/ We were the kings and queens of this town/ we’re already gone/ I wish we could stay/ What would you do for just one day,” Martin sings. Heart-breaking and vivid, “Old New York” paints a picture of missing a life once shared, but also longing for the fresh excitement that comes with new love and big dreams.
To end the album, listeners are sent off on the dreamy melody of “Places.” This track is something of an anthem, summing up the nostalgic yet carefree themes of the full work. It plays “Time was a notion and nights were a song/ And it feels like forever until it’s all gone/ We played in the islands and tasted the breeze/ Let go of the world and danced on the sea.” This song inspires a genuine touch of wanderlust and leaves you feeling bolder.
From start to finish, the band bursts with energy. Between songs like big opener, “Head Over Heels,” lively “Bringing Hollywood Back To Life,” and sharpened sound of “Jet Black Heart” this record is stacked with feel-good jams, authentic emotion and overall easy listening. This record screams summertime; windows down and the speakers blazing. It proves to be a soundtrack for young and old music lovers alike, combining elements of classic rock and indie style, with prominent traces of pop.
And while the deeper themes and meanings within the album stay true to the messy bits of love and life, it’s easy to tell that this latest record is far from a grand disaster.
Album Reviewed by Francesca Creavey
