Flagpole Magazine reviews Nana Grizol's "Ruth"
The emotional urgency and melodic familiarity of Theo Hilton's songs have always been the winning aspects of his bands, and the past several years of Nana Grizol's perch atop the local folk-punk pile have solidified the band's strengths. Ruth, the sophomore release, is an 11-song package that capitalizes on past positivity, but fleshes out the acoustic guitar jangle.
"Cynicism" is Ruth's opening salvo, a terse and wholehearted refutation of the song's title subject, and "Gave On" is a propulsive, Kinks-y rocker with clear folk roots. Ruth is more dynamic than Nana Grizol's debut, Love It, Love It, from a few years back. Laura Carter and Robbie Cucchiaro's horns are surprisingly polished, in tune and swingy. The songs are focused on issues of life and how to live it, at some times subtle, at others overt, didactic but rarely polemical, personal and always political.
Hilton (ex-Zumm Zumm, Defiance, Ohio) employs a folky speak-sung ramble that's enthusiastically his own and heartfelt to the max. You could triangulate it using Conor Oberst, Daniel Johnston and Jeff Mangum, and while you wouldn't be hammer-on-the-nail, you'd be close enough. Take "Grady and Dubose," for instance: after its delirious Brill Building opening, the song lets Hilton's words tumble forth, inevitable in their expression. Choral moments like on "From Here" expand the idea of Nana Grizol from six-person band to community.
So, basically: Charm City, population: Theo. And friends.
Chris Hassiotis
Nana Grizol is playing at Ben's Bikes on Sunday, Feb. 21.
