As seen on The Soda Shop
www.thesodashop.usI’ll be quite honest with something here. I have yet to listen to The Grand Astoria’s first 2 albums. I know, shame on me. After listening to the third album by these Russian bad asses, I’m ready to go back and listen. Of course I knew who these guys were and have heard a song or two in the past. Again, shame on me. Thank god for the new year and new year’s resolutions. My first resolution of 2011 will be to listen to the back catalog of The Grand Astoria but not until after I’m done with their third album, Omnipresence.
This is a pretty big album in terms of bulk. It’s nearly an hour long and the songs are decently length-ed. The shortest song is the first track, “Doomsday Party”, is 3:27 long. The longest, “Something Wicked This Way Comes”, is 12:49. “Doomsday Party” is a rocking song, very reminiscent of the Truckfighters with a little less fuzz. “Hungry and Foolish” follows up along the same lines. “Omniabsence” is a spaced out, psychedelic instrumental song. “Rat Race in Moscow” continues their rocking ways with a bit more fuzz. There’s some guitar soloing going on in it too. This is by far my favorite track on the album. “Something Wicked This Way Comes” is one long and cool song that adds a little bit of classic rock elements to their tried and true stoner riffs. As it goes along, it becomes instrumental and plays audio from a movie. It gains steam and becomes somewhat an epic song. Sudden;y, it comes to a nice sot finish. It should be the last song on the album but still fits in nicely where it’s at. “The Song of Hope” is a bit funkier song than most and even features some organ playing. It’s more of a southern blues rock song than a hard rock song. “Omnipresence” is another spaced out song. “Stonewall” closes out the album in hard rocking, fuzzing style. It’s fast paced and in your face.
There’s no doubt that this is the first great album of 2011 you’ll hear. This is easily a top pick of 2011. It’s got repeat power and I can see myself going back numerous times throughout the year to listen. I’m sure you’ll feel the same way too. The album is self released through the band and will be available for mass consumption starting January 1st, 2011. You can contact the band at
thegrandastoria@gmail.com to get yours.