Pages I The Clarion | September 21,
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Asheville Indie band releases new album
step'hame'sTd
by Zack Harding
Arts & Life Editor
Asheville’s “Stephanie’s Id”
has recently released their
second full length album, Grus
Americanus, and it is a
smashing testament to the local
indie music scene.
Stephanie’s Id got started in
2002 and have since became the
iconfor Asheville-based music.
Though there have been many
lineup changes over their
existence, the core of the band
has always revolved around
the songwriting partnership of
keyboardist Chuck
Lichtenberger and vocalist
Stephanie Morgan. Grus
Americanus only serves to
solidify the duo as modem age
indie pop/rock wizards that will
continue to thrive.
Their sound is alternative for
sure, but to place them too far
into any of the rock, pop, or
R&B categories which they
seem to approach would be a
disservice. Instead, let me tell
you a little about some of the
songs that make up the album.
“Wash Us Down With Sea
Saline” begins the album with
the sort of intensity which
follows throughout.
Stephanie’s vocals here are
long-held and couple with the
thick-rumbling bass to
forcefully grab the listener’s ear.
“Blue” follows with a
somewhat ambient spoken
word intro that soon blasts into
a steadily driving beat, the
vocal delivery now almost
angry in its strength.
These first two songs are
good examples of one of
Stephanie’s Id’s prime
songwriting strengths: a sense
of the “epic” while still retained
within a three to four minute,
tightly composed song.
This idea comes into full
being with the undeniably
catchy “Cold Cold”. Here they
take a sultry, groovy
introduction and morph it into
a dramatic chorus that only
continues to build throughout
the song; it is like hearing a
miniature musical story,
complete with rising action,
chmax and conclusion.
Another strength is their
smart sense of restraint. The
vibrant and energetic “Cindy”
has a great hook in the chorus
that immediately has the
listener singing along and
feeling a sense of familiarity
with the song. One of the
reasons that this hook is so
good though, is because of
how sparingly it’s used, unlike
mainstream pop music which
beats a catchy hook into the
ground.
At times the band comes
across rather experimental,
such as in “Just Waima Show
Ya”, yet they never stray too
far into that territory. They also
have a couple of straight ahead
friendly-sounding tunes where
Stephanie’s vocals are just
dripping with a sort of sweet &
sexy charm, like in “Bounce.”
They counteract these tunes
with haunting, ethereal
numbers like “Quite Enough”.
In short, there is nothing to
dislike about Grus Americanus:
it’s smart, well written,
iimovative, expertly produced
and most importantly, honest.
Mascot Hottie Spotlight
Name: Tommy the Twister
Class: F-5
Favorite Hobbies: Spinning,
cow tossing, making white
squirells unemployed
Favortie Movie: Twister
Favorite Song: "Crank that
Tornadoboy
Favorite Food: Hawk
Favorite Magazine: SPIN
Role Model: Tasmanian
Devil
Favorite Hang out spot:
Trailer Parks