Record Reviews

7.5

The Grates
Teeth Lost, Hearts Won

It's times like this that I am happy that I don't regularly listen to the radio. I have no idea how heavily the songs on Teeth Lost, Hearts Won are currently being flogged by the 'alternative' radio stations around the country and I am pleased about that fact. This is what killed my original love affair with the high-paced, action loving Brisbane trio, with the songs from their original EP and the follow-up full length debut, Gravity Won't Get You High, being 'heavily rotated' to the point of annoyance. Sure there were fantastic snippets of thrashy, bright-coloured 'happy punk' on both releases (more so on the EP) but the songs lacked the depth to survive being so overplayed.

Although it's only a small step, there is definitely a development of the band's core sound second time around. This is most evident on Two Kinds Of Right, which combines not only an increased level of substance but also showcases the fact the trio are now thinking a lot more about the direction of their music. The song, which builds to a fantastic climatic guitar explosion, exhibits a greater sense of control and a lot more believable emotion. It is almost certainly their finest moment to date.

The rest of the album sounds a lot like slightly fatter versions of songs from the first record. The group keep the formula simple - twisting Patience Hodgson's whirlwind sing-a-long vocals around the group's signature blend of sloppy punk rhythms and pop focused melodies - with mostly successful results. Tracks such as the party starter Aw Yeah, the up-beat Milk Eyes, the emotional roller-coaster Earthquake and the introspective Storms and Fevers turn out the best, sounding creatively free of restrictions, yet also with enough pop flavoured cuteness to be instantly appealing.

It's highly possible that over time I will find this record as flat and two-dimensional as the group's debut, but right now I am thoroughly enjoying it. It's evidence of a band starting, albeit slowly, to develop their sound and move forward in an unforced way. While Teeth Lost, Hearts Won doesn't pack a hard enough kick to earn The Grates too many new admirers - or even win back some of those that drifted too far following the commercial saturation of their debut - it does more than enough to please their dedicated followers.

Words by Jonny

August 13, 2008 @ 13:02