Grim Slippers - Take Notice EP

Grim Slippers 

​Take Notice EP
self-released; 2016

3.5 out of 5

By Mimi Strauss
​

Grim Slippers work hard to build a sense of intensity and energy on their EP Take Notice. They desperately want to make you dance. At times, they accomplish this. Grim Slippers creates grooves that are funky like blue cheese, and other times spooky like 3 a.m. They pluck influences from several genres, mainly blues and classic rock with perhaps some added undertones of EDM.

Based out of San Diego, the members of Grim Slippers have been playing together since middle school. The trio, Will (guitar), Brennan (drums), and Eric (keyboard/trumpet), describe lunch breaks during which they would listen to bands like the Doors and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They continued to play together throughout high school and college. Their debut EP Take Notice represents the culmination of their time together as friends and musicians. 

On Take Notice, these classic and alt rock influences can still be heard. Grim Slippers claims the impact of numerous genres, but blues and rock are the most pronounced. One band that has had a particularly enormous impact on Grim Slippers is Moon Hooch, the dance-focused, high-energy jazz group from Brooklyn. Moon Hooch has impacted Grim Slippers sound, as well as their energy and desire to break the rules of music. 

In their bio, Grim Slippers discusses the extent to which EDM has impacted their music. On each track, noticeable, repetitive beats create danceable tunes. Although some beats come across as reminiscent of EDM, it seems counterintuitive to describe non-electronic music as EDM-influenced. Beats are beats and rhythms are rhythms. EDM did not invent danceable beats. It would be interesting to hear Take Notice with some actual synth sounds added. 

​Lyrics are not the focus of Take Notice. The focus of the EP is energy. Specifically, a high, driving, vigorous energy. To create this, they combine growling vocals with repeated, danceable melodies and beats. The trio is clearly talented and has vision. However, they are trying to be way too many things. Grim Slippers has the potential to make great music, but they need to stop trying to be everything and nothing all at once. 

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