TIDEWATER GRAIN
Here On The Outside (Ruffnation/Warner Bros.)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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How the hell did this happen? No rap-core, no pimp daddy posturing, no gothic despair, no sophomoric T&A. Tidewater Grain doesn't seem to feature any of the elements required for major label interest these days. It turns out that someone, godblessem whoever he/she is, at Warner Bros. is willing to take a flyer on a band just because they play tough, tight, kick-ass rawk and roll.

Somehow this Philadelphia based quintet (their name is taken from Philly's Tidewater Grain Building) manages to sound completely contemporary while mining a musical territory that's been out of favor for new bands for quite awhile. Sure, there are some legacy acts that still get favorable attention, but when a straight rock band gets this kind of chance in the opening days of the twenty-first century it means either their uncle owns the label or they've got something pretty special going on.

I don't know anything about their family connections, but Tidewater Grain has the twin guitar attack of John Daley and Dave Lord, the dramatic vocal stylings of Kevin McNamara and a tight rhythm section featuring Dave Fritz on bass and James Billington on drums, and they've had all that for a good long while. That's probably the real secret. This band's history stretches out for over a decade, during which they've paid plenty of dues playing the kind of music they choose to play, despite the drifts in popular attention. Think of how many fads and phases you need to outlast in order to last 10 years in rock music. You're either gonna get real good, or you're gonna get out.

Tidewater Grain got real good, and now they've got a CD on a rack near you. If you're ready to rock, they're waiting.

Track List:

Here On The Outside * One Man Show * American Star * Pedal Or The Brake * Rocket Ship * Still You Fail * Annie Helicopter * Onward Spaceman * Peter 55 * Empty Head * 7 Headed And Full Of Life * Here On The Outside (Caveman Version)

© 2001 - Shaun Dale