The Grimly Pleased

Reviews

The Grimly Pleased I’ll Choose It EP

This is short, to-the-point, and excellent. Bouncy cowpunk that inevitably brings to mind stuff like THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS and maybe the spirit of Hitler Bad-era VANDALS (in a good way!). Consistency is impressive for these guys, they continue to deliver bouncy-to-the-point-of-dance-y jams with clever, even poignant lyrics. Music like this rewards multiple listens if you click with it, though I imagine the overall sunny disposition may put some people off. Not me though, this world is a fucking nightmare and spending eight punk, fun minutes with some clever music is decidedly on the menu.

The Grimly Pleased I’d Be Delighted EP

I’m very pleased with this GRIMLY PLEASED four-song banger. This is sing-along-able, bouncy, simple, not changing any minds or breaking down any doors, and doing it all perfectly and loosely. This has elements of SICKO, the FEELIES, and the BANANAS while still retaining a sound of their own. Now I really want to go and check out everything I’ve missed from them.

The Grimly Pleased Give Some Kicks 10”

Fun and silly cowpunk with a slight psychobilly edge. I mean this in the best way possible, but this sounds like it fell straight out of a time capsule from the early ’90s. Reminds me a lot of THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, with the musical chops of TOY DOLLS and DEAD KENNEDYS. Seems to me like they use a lot of inside jokes in their lyrics, which I know can be a turnoff for those who value more substance in their poetry, but I’ve always enjoyed peeking through the window of someone’s world. Even when the jokes are a tad more cryptic, they’re written well enough to be relatable. Take their track “Thank You, Ben Morgan”—an ode to someone who I assume was once their recording engineer. “Thank you, Ben Morgan / Thank you for being so cool /Thank you, Ben Morgan / You didn’t even use Pro-Tools.” I don’t care who you are, that’s some charming wordsmithing right there.