House of Vibes Revisited

Album Review

Of all the groups to emerge in the mid-'90s, few better captured the disparate sounds of the time than the Grip Weeds did on their debut self-produced and self-recorded album, House of Vibes. With hindsight, it's evident that the band was the American answer to Brit-pop: both were plowing the same British Invasion field. However, the Weeds spread much further afield, into late-'60s psychedelia and hard rock, and with "Out of Today" even added a tinge of grunge to their retro sound. Their album was an astonishing achievement, and has barely dated over the years, so no wonder the group decided to remodel it for House of Vibes Revisited. The remix is subtly done, giving the set a cleaner sound and pulling the bass more to the fore, but it's little more then freshening up a perfectly good frock. A trio of short interviews and the nine bonus tracks appended to the remixed album make the reissue particularly relevant. A pair of the latter were recorded live in 1993, including a fiery attack on "Out of Today" and a spectacular Cream-like take on Fleetwood Mac's "One Sunny Day." A further four numbers were performed in acoustic fashion during a radio appearance in 1995. There the group gave "Close Descending Love" an acid wash, trotted out their best Beatlesque harmonies for a cover of the Blue Things' "It Ain't No Big Thing," showcased their best guitar interplay on "Someone," and delivered up a succulent version of Jefferson Airplane's "Good Shepherd." A trio of fabulous demos complete the set, offering further insight into the band's musical vision. But fans aren't done yet — stick the CD into your computer and go online for more music, videos, info, photos, and more. Quite a package, then, with the photo-laced sleeve notes telling the story of the band's early years and the making of this stellar album.