Wakey! Wakey! - Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said
by Kelly Smith
published: 23 / 7 / 2011
Label:
Family Records
Format: CD
intro
Comforting-sounding orchestral folk-pop on debut album from Wakey! Wakey!,the project of Brooklyn-based musician and One Tree Hill actor, Michael Grubbs
I haven’t watched teen melodrama since somewhere around the time Joey sailed off for the summer with Pacey in 'Dawson’s Creek'. I maintain nothing that has been made post-my leaving school has been quite up to the standard of my formative years, but then everyone feels like this about the programmes that brought them up, I’m sure. This information is not useless (well, not that useless..) because it leads me to introduce Wakey! Wakey!, an orchestral-pop-folk project by Brooklyn-based Michael Grubbs. Grubbs has appeared as a recurring (singing) character in 'One Tree Hill' – it’s not something I would ever have turned my attention to before, but now I find myself strangely curious to find out what all the fuss is about. ‘Almost Everything’, the eponymous opening track, is a semi-dramatic piano-led sweeping orchestral amalgamation which is a great deal lovelier than I am able to describe. In the opening seconds, it reminded me of 65daysofstatic, but once Grubbs’ vocal kicks in you are transported to something altogether different; something emotional and strained, with a hint of desperation and heartbreak within the lyrics. When Grubbs sings, “Well, it feels bad now, but it’s gonna get better”, you’re not entirely sure he believes as much himself. The first time I listened through to this album, I didn’t think much of it. It’s got no really obvious hits – nothing which would immediately grab you by the collar and shout. “LISTEN TO ME I’LL BE IN YOUR HEAD FOR DAYS”, but I’m so pleased I gave it a second try. ‘Square Peg Round Hole’ is infectiously catchy; the kind of song that once you’ve heard a few times, makes you smiles when you realise what it is. Other tracks are slower and sadder, but without being depressing. ‘Dance So Good’ is quiet and gorgeous, and like so many of the tracks here, lyrically it’s as romantic and sweet as a first love. As he takes you through sing-out-loud piano pop, moody atmospheric rock and orchestral classical melodies, it is Grubbs’ warm and genuine voice which keeps everything tied together. I’m not surprised his music has featured on 'One Tree Hill', nor that he was offered a part on said show. I imagined poignant scenes from 'Dawson’s Cree'k whilst listening to several of the tracks here, which indicates Grubbs’ talent to connect with an audience – even an audience who are envisioning scenes from over a decade ago. It’s comfort music, low key and dramatic all at once. I can’t think of a single reason for you not to try it.
Track Listing:-
1 Almost Everything2 The Oh Song
3 Twenty-Two
4 Square Peg Round Hole
5 Dance So Good
6 1876 - The Brooklyn Theatre Fire
7 Feral Love
8 Got It All Wrong
9 Light Outside
10 Car Crash
11 Brooklyn
12 Clinton St Girl
13 Take It Like A Man
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesBill Wyman - Drive My Car
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Deep Purple - =1
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Jules Winchester - The Journey
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Popstar - Obscene
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart