Brand-new four-piece rock band based out of New York City, The Grey Scales is rolling out with their new album Life Lessons. The band is led by Brandon Glasgow who contributes on lead vocals, background vocals and rhythm guitar, and who also was the one behind the music and lyrics. Glasgow’s lead is unmistakable as his commandeering showmanship takes the band’s synergy and funnels it through this ten-track collection with explorations into alternative, indie, blues, soul, funk and pop territory.
Life Lessons gets revving with “Atomic People,” where once the guitars hit, the sounds build in texture and vibe. The energy then grows in consistency. The vocals that arrive reminded me of Dave Matthews. I thought Glasgow had a warm and inviting timbre that sounded similar to the type of music this performer plays. The band performs in parts blues with a touch of funk, soul and rock in the mixture. This felt like a feel-good tune a lot of people can rock out to. Some sparse guitar sounds out starkly in the air towards the start of “Hook.” Gradually, a fuller band sound fuses into the vibes. Strumming on the acoustic guitar grows more dynamic and I was arrested by the rhythms. The music is fiery and impassioned. The guitar in particular reminded me of Santana. I thought there was a happening Latin vibe that paired great with the blues. Rumbling bass starts out “Checkmate.” As the low hum of background vocals come in, soon the music becomes more focused with spiraling guitar riffs and Glasgow’s vocals. Glasgow’s voice is filled with grit which nicely fit with the bluesy pulse. A whole lot of soul could be heard in his vocals. This felt like another on-point performance. A raw countdown starts off “Privacy” that has a great punk rock driven vibe to it. Glasgow’s vocals are sung in an electric rush that really hits the pulse with this type of music. The feel-good, uplifting tunes are prevalent throughout this song. The guitars rev for an out-of-control session. I loved the energy here. In this instant, Glasgow’s vocals reminded me of The Call. Off to a sauntering groove, a bit of funk could be heard in the keys and bass lines on “Hey Charlotte.” This felt like something to come from the ‘70s. The funky blues rock notes add a distinctive flavoring to the music. A bit of disco could also be detected in the sounds. This seemed like a playful tune great to get down and groovin’ to. A marching drumming beat sets the tone to the intro of “Falling Down.” Next, some melodious guitar rhythms settle in. Starkly in the backdrop, Glasgow’s vocals sound off. This track had a touch of melancholy to it. The vibe of this song reminded me of Lifehouse’s “Hanging by a Moment.” The nostalgic feel to this track made it a highlight. On “Going Down In Flames,” some intricate guitars meet the start of this song. A couple of distorted effects makes this a wild ride. With little holding back, the vocals come in full of driven energy. Glasgow gets down and dirty with this gritty hard rocking tune. This felt like another track that revisits some classic rock vibes. On “Happy Home,” some percussions sizzle in the background. The guitars add a bluesy vibe to the music. This song had a touch of reggae to it bringing with it a warm and beachy sound. The song’s tune reminded me of Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” The howling of wolves greets the intro of “Wolf.” Gradually, the music becomes more amped with a darker edge. Highlighting a bit of aggression, Glasgow’s vocals come in uncovering more grit in his voice. The pacing of the music will make you feel alive. The fiery and passion behind the sound will grab you right away. This felt like a great way to close the album. The band has a great energy. They fully fall back on their live sound to flesh out these tracks. Filled with some great live energy, these songs display the band’s great on-stage presence, as these performances don’t feel overly fixed or polished. Some feel-good tunes in the vein of blues, funk, soul, pop and rock makes for a striking sound. The band brings their brand of rock n’ roll to the masses and it is without a doubt something that will get you rocking out to in no time. Each player is fully in-sync to each member’s frequencies as it is undeniable the band has some great chemistry. An adventure from start to finish, this record is well worth exploring. Many discoveries await, so dive right in!
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