Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Grackle - Wintergarden

8/22/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Grackle

Wintergarden
self-released; 2016

3.7 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Grackle? What’s that? Did the band make this word up? I’d like to know what it means.The only thing I found from my extensive Google searching is a type of bird. Maybe I’ll never know but I think the band should have an explanation on their website as to why they decided to go with this name. It’s keeping me awake at night and now my wife is also searching for answers as to the meaning of this word. 

Steve Katsikas (vocals/keyboards/saxophones/guitars), Jeff Gard (drums), Steve Dietrich (bass), and Joanna Katsikas (vocals) are the members behind this band and their debut album is called Wintergarden. The production is exceptional and the band explores a variety of different genres. 

The music can be dramatic, epic and nostalgic. It also has a vibe that you trace back to the ’80s on many of the songs. Everything from elements of prog to cinematic rock in the spirit of Meatloaf. In all honesty this album doesn’t mesh with many acts in the mainstream or the underground of today. You may at first think that’s not necessarily a good thing but I beg to differ. I guarantee that a band hoping to jump upon a bandwagon or sound is already too late. By the time the band releases their music it will already become passe. Bands like Grackle have more of a chance of being recognized because they don’t sound like the songs that are dominating people's Spotify playlists and airwaves (although I wonder how many people still listen to the radio).

The band opens with “Take Every Road” and this one is about as epic as they come. I don’t remember the saxophone being this huge sounding. Suffice it to say the song is quite epic from the instrumentation to the lyrics.

Luckily, the band doesn’t go quite as epic on the next couple of tracks. “Pieces” is lush and atmospheric while “Winter Garden” is a solid rock song that is melodic.There is a good amount of versatility as the album progresses with “Hold On To Sunshine,” “The Truth Has Eyes” and “Interstate of Circumstance.”

​
There are some albums where you can tell the band put a lot of time and effort into it. The proof is really in the pudding. Wintergarden is unequivocally one of those albums. At ten songs this is a full-fledged album that feels like an album should from beginning to end.
Become A Fan
official website
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact