The difference between The Grates’ first and third studio albums Gravity Won’t Get You High (2006) and Secret Rituals is vast. If the first album was a bratty, snot-nosed high school kid getting drunk and having fun in the backyard, the band’s latest offering is a young adult — bright-eyed, still a little naive, but a whole lot more mature and self-assured. The Grates’ sound is a lot more polished but, to be frank, their songs lack the raw enthusiasm and energy that was present on Gravity Won’t Get You High. To put it simply, it’s not nearly as much fun.
Their repetitive refrains that had the potential to be catchy and memorable verge more on tired and uninspired and their once unique, melodramatic frantic pop has become generic indie-pop-rock that doesn’t stand out from the deluge of similar indie-pop-rock that floods our airwaves.
Don’t let these negative words fool you, though; the album is not terrible in the least. Although it doesn’t elicit as much excitement or body movement as the previous two albums, Secret Rituals is an easy, pleasant listen with some solid tracks. Patience Hodgson’s voice is sounding better than ever.
Opener ‘Turn Me On’, with its killer distorted bass line, crunchy guitars and clever, varied drum beat is an example of that sexy, fun-loving Grates attitude we know and love married with their more grown-up sound. ‘Sweet Dreams’ is slightly reminiscent of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and shows off just how much Hodgson has improved as vocalist. The surf-rock tinged ‘The Night Won’t Start Without Us’ is a perfect light-hearted summer party track and ‘With You’ is an anthem for youth in love, featuring a memorable half-time, three-note, two-word chorus.
It might be a cop-out to say this, but Secret Rituals might be a slow grower. There’s plenty of potential there; perhaps it’s just clouded by the shock of how un-Grates-like The Grates now sound. Maybe we just need to accept that the old Grates are no more and learn to embrace their new ways. After all, bands don’t get anywhere by staying the same! The Grates’ success means that they must be doing something right.
– Stephanie-Bowie Liew
