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Rating: You never stop learning, and making new discoveries, even in the world of music, as demonstrated by Grey Daze. And who are they? A band as unknown as it is the starting point of one of the prominent vocalists and songwriters of the last decade, albeit in a decidedly different genre. Yes, you read that right, one of the most well-known vocalists of one of the most famous and equally criticized bands of the last 10 years, for better or worse — but I’ll talk about this later; it's only right to give priority to this solid debut album.
Grey Daze was born in 1993 in Arizona (blessed Mid-West) formed by a group of teenagers including our 18-year-old mister X. In 1994, they released their first album, the present "Wake Me". I usually refrain from drawing parallels with more prestigious bands or making various comparisons, but from the first listen, it's impossible not to recognize in Grey Daze many of the ingredients that made grunge great: guitars alternating strong riffs with more melancholic chords, a raspy voice, sometimes creeping and more. After opening with "What's In Your Eyes," the second track, the excellent "Spin," and the first single "Wake Me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeUGRxJ8JP0&feature=related, which sounds so much like Pearl Jam you might think they are playing, already justify buying the album (metaphorically speaking, since Amazon.com lists a copy of the present at a modest price of $125). What personally surprises me is the approach with which these kids tackle a genre between grunge and rock, certainly not easy to interpret, evidenced by the grit of "She Shines" http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=UYaJQ9EOd1k in which mister X himself takes the situation in hand, driving the song with his raspy voice. He admitted several years ago to being "a huge fan of Stone Temple Pilots" (from the sound of his current band, you wouldn’t guess it now or ever), but it's only when listening to this album that those words finally make their meaning clear.
Returning to the album, good performances in "Holding You" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQ9edJMdS8&feature=related and the melodic "Believe Me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyrCEDut-5o, which if it had been written by a more famous band, would probably have forcedfully entered the rock charts to stay there for a very long time.
In conclusion, "Wake Me" can be considered a good rock/grunge record that perfectly fits the historical context in which it was conceived, and it is evidence that this band could have been more fortunate, or rather have had a longer life, but was probably influenced too much by the talent and choices of its songwriter, who a few years later embarked on a new adventure, which to date has led him to sell millions and millions of records. And who knows, if from time to time, remembering where it all began, he might think about putting back together what was destroyed 15 years ago. It's time to reveal the name of the so-famous mister X ... but maybe not!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Wake Me (02:54)
Should I have a taste of this
Run across your lips
And start all over again
Could this all just be a dream
If I should fall to stormy weather
Wake me, wake me
Maybe this time I can do it all right
Without my foot in my mouth
Without that blind in my sight
Could this all just be a dream
If I should fall to stormy weather
Wake me, wake me
Too scared to lose the one
I tried so hard for
Too scared to lose the one
I never had
08 Hole (03:41)
I would have sailed away, if I'd known that nothing would change
Staring out my window sill, in my wasted prison cell
And I know what you want
And I know what you feel
As I cradle your loving
And watch you disappear
And I feel your heart beatin', pounding in my head
And I'd like to control you, 'cause I can't control myself... myself
Rain come my way, mold my head like a ball of clay
Softly wither into my grave, never to see the sun again
And I feel your heart beatin', pounding in my head
And I'd like to control you, 'cause I can't control myself... myself
All alone in a clowd by myself, so sorry wish I could find a way
Back into your hole again, but I've become your enemy
And I feel your heart beat, pounding in my head
And I'd like to control you, 'cause I can't control myself... myself
Hole...
Hole...
Hole...
Hole...
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