The Grand and Grandiose
| The Grand and Grandiose | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 📅 Released | 2 April 2013 | |||
| ⏳ Length | 35:11 | |||
| 🏷️ Label | Mint 400 Records | |||
| 🤑 Producer | Neil Sabatino | |||
| Fairmont chronology | ||||
| ||||
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The Grand and Grandiose is the seventh studio album from the American rock band Fairmont.
Content[edit]
The ten-track album was released on 2 April 2013 with Mint 400 Records, and was produced by Neil Sabatino. It is classified as jangly indie rock, and draws comparison to the music of the indie rock band the Wrens, the alternative rock band Eels, and the indie rock band Margot & the Nuclear So and So's. In contrast to the complex arrangements of prior Fairmont albums, The Grand and Grandiose contains "stripped down" guitar, bass and drum arrangements, with occasional contributions from piano, and melodic percussion.[1]
In a Pirate! press release, Sabatino explains it was "written during the worst year of my life. It's all very personal and I don't really want to cheapen the gravity of the situation I was in by writing about it in a press release," however he says "things have improved dramatically for all involved and this album is the lasting document of a period of my life I would like to, but will never forget."[2]
Reception[edit]
In a review by Deborah Draisin in Jersey Beat, she notes "while leadman Neil Sabatino has always waxed poetic about harmonizing, I cannot recall another instance in which the band has layered the entire way like this," and she asks "what would a Fairmont album be without wistfully cynical lyricism?" She ends the piece with "this band has absolutely grown by leaps and bounds."[3]
Christopher Anthony of The Fire Note remarks "one of the big differences [on The Grand and Grandiose] is the reduction of the mirrored female vocals from Sam Carradori. This changes the focus to Neil's delivery on this more personal record [and] he nails it." He closes the review by saying "the album also has a stronger induced guitar presence that is more straightforward and gives the songs proper emphasis at the correct moments."[4]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Dead Leaves of Autumn" | 1:14 |
| 2. | "Alone You Stand" | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Elephant" | 3:37 |
| 4. | "Blac Heart" | 4:21 |
| 5. | "The Sun Shines Only For Me" | 2:24 |
| 6. | "White Light" | 4:11 |
| 7. | "Hallelujah" | 3:08 |
| 8. | "Misery" | 3:46 |
| 9. | "Paper and Glue" | 3:40 |
| 10. | "We Brought This on Ourselves" | 4:57 |
| Total length: | 35:11 | |
Personnel[edit]
- Andy Applegate – drums
- Sam Carradori – bass guitar and backing vocals
- Christian Kisala – keys
- Neil Sabatino – lead vocals and guitar
References[edit]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Anthony, Christopher (5 April 2013), "Fairmont: The Grand and Grandiose [Album Review]", The Fire Note, retrieved 31 January 2019
- Carradini, Stephen (4 April 2013), "Fairmont's The Grand and the Grandiose lives up to the billing", Independent Clauses, retrieved 31 January 2019
- Draisin, Deborah (2013), "Fairmont – "The Grand and Grandiose" review", Jersey Beat, retrieved 31 January 2019
- Pirate! Staff (2013), "Fairmont The Grand and Grandiose", Pirate!, retrieved 31 January 2013
