Grumpster is just one of those bands. The first record caught my attention, the second was a “whoa” moment, and now it’s already album number three, five years later. It’s been a relatively quick progression and there’s a big jump in sound between the first and last albums, but it’s also linear and it makes sense. The band come from the California Bay Area and play poppy punk with a realist point-of-view. Fever Dream felt upbeat, even while dealing with more depressing subject matter (“Today I almost crashed my car for fun”). On the new self-titled record, the band maintains the basic format but it feels grungier. Less sunshine, more overcast.
To keep comparing to the past, “Spiders” struck me on Fever Dream as an outlier, a more angular and darker sounding song that showed some songwriting chops as it started out harsh and instrumental and, by the end, was a poppy jam. In retrospect, it feels like the stepping stone for this record. It’s a little angrier, a little bit harsher in tone, but it’s unmistakably the same band. “Thorns” is the outlier this time, with an almost hardcore riff and shouted vocals, while “Bottom Feeder” adds Cobain-like shouts to great effect. While the style has changed, it has the same fluid songwriting and underlying tone as the band’s two previous records. “Bran’s Motto,” may be the better metaphor as it has harsh vocals (the band seems to share vocals more this time around) with hook-driven choruses that give you a head-nodding rhythm, countered with poppy drums and backing “whoa-oh” ish vocals.
While they mix it up a lot on here and there’s more emphasis on heavy rhythms, it’s still damn peppy too. “Sun” and “Just For Fun” would fit nicely on Fever Dream. Personal favorites include “SSBpt2” and “Bone$”. There’s enough continuity that it all makes sense together, yet enough variety that it doesn’t get old over 11 songs.
To jump back on the crash-my-car metaphor, on this new self-titled record the band has embraced where they crashed landed. They are back on their feet -- perhaps battered and bruised -- but the grit pairs beautifully with the upbeat tones. They are determined to get back on the road, back in control. A self-titled Record #3 is a statement. It’s not exactly starting over, but it’s looking forward instead of back. The journey will continue.
