Review Summary: After 5 years, a nice little return to sincerity
Nana Grizol has always struck me as a band you can let into your heart with ease. Through the vocals of Theo Hilton of Defiance, Ohio, horns from former members of Neutral Milk Hotel, and percussion from drummers including Michael Scheeweis of Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass, there's a perfect little mix of indie folk and folk punk we can all enjoy. Their 2008 debut LP, "Love It Love It", to this day, continues to stick in my mind through memorable lyrics such as, "I would tell you but I'm not so good with words; our language makes a simple feeling feel oh so absurd", the heart-melting sincerity brings a smile to my face every time. Then came "Ruth" a year later in 2009, which as a sophomore release, contained a much more emotional and raw set of material. Songs such as "Cynicism" and "Arthur Hall" bring vivid memories and bittersweet moments to your ears, as if you're reading straight from Theo's diary. Then, 5 years later, this came. Clocking in at around 12 minutes, it is not a long EP in any way, shape, or form, but it brings you back to the good ol' days of chanting along to the many sincere and simple tracks of Nana Grizol's past, such as "Circles Around the Moon" and "Blackbox", complete with warm-sounding horns and more signature lyrics from Theo Hilton. "Nightlights II" brings back a settling feeling of nostalgia, as if looking back at old friends with lyrics such as, "Aren't you the one that always told me, boy, that it's easier in time to be the saddest sound in a lullaby?". "Tacoma Center 1600" brings up a harsh prison system through lines like, "No phone calls home to families, no reading, no Miranda Rights. A second tier of prison, as if the first was not enough" but continues on to acknowledge the dirtiness of the city itself and the "eugenic" organs we live on. As a whole, it is a collection of smooth rhythms and heartwarming lyricisms, complete with Theo Hilton's signature sincerity and cries for a better, and more caring, world. It is a nice little trip back into the music that I fell in love with at the end of the 2000s, hearing familiar sounds and smiling along to the simple horn melodies. A reminder of what was, and possibly what is to come. A reminder of what was sung on "Broken Cityscapes" off of "Love It Love It",
"We'll grow, and we'll change, and we'll see you again."
