Grand Street Cryers – Steady on the Shaky Ground
The story reads like a publicists dream come true: Local band records a song for a compilation album put out by the Business of Music class at a Community College. Song becomes huge radio hit. Band records album with former Tom Petty drummer Stan Lynch as producer. The result is one of the most promising albums of the year.
While the final chapters remain to be written, thats pretty much the story of Dallas band Grand Street Cryers. The songs on Standing On The Shaky Ground have the right balance of hooks and harmonies to get the listener singing along. With one listen, its readily apparent why Angie Wood put the band on the map, but Blue Skies Black, Waiting For The Ones and the country tinged Any City prove the Cryers are no one-hit wonder.
Musically, the bands sound falls somewhere between the Connells and the Gin Blossoms. And while a direct comparison would be a disservice to singer/guitarist Tim Locke, if the planet ever deteriorated to the point that someone felt the need to assemble a U2 cover band, Locke would be among the finalists for lead vocalist. It may sound like an odd combination, but it works. If youre a pop fan, this one deserves heavy rotation in the player.