NEW GRENADA

Erasing Clouds (05/06)
It's an over-simplification, but sometimes it seems to me that Detroit's one of the places in the US where bands are still making straight-ahead, down-and-dirty rock sound like it's something fresh and new. New Grenada's third album Modern Problems takes a rough, guitar-heavy, but still melodic approach to the problems of the modern world, in songs that take a casual snapshot of people and their issues....and we've all got issues. John Nelson sings lyrics that sound like observations of people he sees on the street every day, like the girl who's "trying to find her niche" or the one with ADD who writes to TV stars. Nicole Allie sings lead on a couple especially punchy/spunky numbers, like the great "Parting Shots." Mostly, New Grenada offers transcendence in the form of loud guitars and unleashed rock music that has a keen pop sense underneath; think of Superchunk and their legions of followers, but with an extra punk-blues sort of grit.

sabas.jud.as (06/06)
Modern Problems oscillates like a pendulum from frisky dance beats, precious female vocals and eccentric synth effects to punk guitar riffs fronted by a rough male singer. A beautiful journey of eerie cross-genres. And it does so with such devotion that the strength of their infectious, creative sounds cannot be denied. Scranching drum beats, electronic textures, gliding guitars backed with bawling female voices ("Emergency Brigade" and "Meat is Murdermobile") form their unique and peculiar musical identity. New Grenada are driven by a breathless energy custom-made for a hot summer night.

Parting Shots LP
Slightly Confusing to a Stranger (11/05)
"Parting Shots is a very good record...New Grenada is clearly chock full of talent and ideas..."

Three Imaginary Girls - Astro Pop (08/05)
"Parting Shots is both gutsy and catchy. The stand-out track, "Just Inside A Week" pairs smart, insightful lyrics with guitar rifts and indie rock construction that would make Doug Martsch proud. The rest of the album blends Pavement and The Minutemen. The end product is edgy lo-fi worthy of inclusion on many a year end top ten list."

30 Music (10/05)
"New Grenada have that bratty, punk feel where songs barely top two minutes and the punk attitude approaches comical rather than dangerous. It's nice though, on its own level. Recalling Devo-ish electronica and Buzzcock-iness punk, New Grenada are little triumphant bursts of naive da da das."

A&A (10/05)
"...the songs themselves are little gems. Big wads of fun."

Em P Me (09/05)
"The songs on the CD are wonderful pop songs, with great harmonies, simplistic and hummable backbones and a load of youthful energy, but they were fully realized when laid down and recorded."

Hot War EP
Delusions of Adequacy (11/03)
"... a group that has taken the fuzz and lo-fi aesthetics of Husker Du and combined it with the lazy rock drawl of Pavement."

Splendid e-zine (11/03)
"The songwriting is political and biting without being obsessive - especially the EP's opener, the raucous, fist-pumping 'The Day After'. John Nelson's vocals are frenzied and just bratty enough to have an edge that cuts... While many in the indie-rock set are content to point a finger at the establishment while operating under its rules and regulations, New Grenada rebel against the game they're supposed to play, with remarkable results."

Confuse Yr Idols Sonic Youth Tribute:

Vice Magazine (08/04)
"My favorites might be New Grenada's cutesy 'Eric's Trip'..."

Prefix Magazine (04)
"Best song by far is New Grenada's punkish version of 'Eric's Trip' � might actually be better than the original."

Real Detroit Weekly (04)
"Detroit's very own New Grenada's new-wavy 'Eric's Trip,' make the album a worthy listen. Best Listening Experience: 'Eric's Trip' from New Grenada takes the cake."

Punk Planet (11/04)
"When it's good, though, it's good:Translated into this comp's best tracks are Lee Renaldo's frenetic guitars (a swirly, stripped-down 'Eric's Trip' from New Grenada)..."

Amazon.com (10/04)
"The stand-out track is clearly the fun, sugary punk rendition of 'Eric's Trip' by New Grenada."

The Open Heart LP
Matthew Gengler, ProjectAtlantisZine
Debut full length CD from Detroit's New Grenada. Features tracks produced by Brendan Benson. Do not listen to this record on your stereo. Put it on a tape, put it in a cassette player, in your tape deck in the car, anything but, don't subject this record to high fidelity. Instead, close your eyes, unless you're driving, and pretend it is ninety-four. The power chord is king, kid vocals are on the guestlist, and pop is drunk at the bar with all her friends. If nobody else is around, sing along, the lyrics stick like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth. "I know you are but what am I?" repeat as necessary, and nobody got hurt.

The Iron Triangle EP
Gary Smith, Delusions of Adequacy
"Sloppy guitars and drums hold together just enough to keep things from collapsing as various band members sneer, rant, and howl their way through illegible lyrics with great gusto. The first two tracks, "Hyperactive Child" by Dead Kennedys and "Boredom" by Buzzcocks, stand out the most. On the seventh and final track, Black Flag's "Damaged," everything implodes into a wonderful crashing pandemonium guaranteed to have parents screaming at their kids to turn down the volume."

The Day After 7" Single:

Geek America (03)
"Grade: A. New Grenada fucking rule."

Delusions of Adequacy (06/03)
"... a sharp garage-guitar bite that's definitely worth checking out."

Indie Pages (03)
"The combination of the song and the sound of the song on the vinyl just makes it sound absolutely perfect."