GRAYLING - Discography

Artist:  Grayling
Album: “Grayling” - Cassette (1996)
             "Shortstop/Situation/Any Luck At All" – 7” (1997)
             "Symtoms" - Cassette (1998)
             “Grayling” – CD (1999)
             "The Time Was Now" CD (2001)
Year:  1994-2001
Genre:  Indie / Alternative

Since the early 80s, Detroit has had an extensive history of bands that wander between the genres of new wave, power pop, indie, alternative and the more tranquilized side of punk rock.  Bands such as Toby Redd, Orange Roughies, Beer On The Penguin, Junk Monkeys, Crossed Wire, Majesty Crush, The Happy Accidents, Focke Wolf 190, Hoarse, and The Fags proudly waved this flag that is now adorned by bands like Bars Of Gold and Break Anchor.  Although, I have great adoration for the widespread talent of the past and present, I still believe mid 90s unit Grayling stands above them all.  Since I’m bestowing this honor upon them, I’m not going to refer to one particular release, but rather their existence and output as a whole.

The driving force behind the excellence of Grayling was songwriting. They bore a fearless singer-songwriter quality tightly wrapped up in creative, independent music. This was not a band that utilized flash or grandiose compositions to mesmerize listeners.  They kept everything uncomplicated and to the point, realizing that simplicity was the key; a lesson taught to everyone by the likes of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Nirvana. Grayling used a variety of styles and dynamics, flowing to and from jangly indie rock…to an all out wall of sound…to catchy power pop…even to chaotic noise rock.  It sounds complex, but they made it seem effortless and developed a pleasingly accessible sound.   It’s the perfect sonic foundation for the memorable, heartfelt, and genuine delivery of the melodies and words.

While being neither blatant nor extreme, they possessed an intangible quality of connecting with people on a level that is relatable and often times jarring.  Lyrically, the band comes from wide range of angles that fit nicely between anecdotal storytelling and introspective narratives involving harrowing, to just downright annoying, issues and situations that haunt and pester typical, everyday people.  The primary subjects of disappointment, self doubt and the desire to escape the banal aspects of life are tackled with a sincerity that makes you think, “I’ve felt exactly like that myself.”  They also sang of stories that almost fall into an Americana ethos with presumably fictional tales of skipping town, dreams of better days, trials, travails, and people you just don’t want to meet.

I’ve always thought Grayling had “that thing” to continue gaining a wider audience beyond the local confines of the Metro Detroit Area.  I easily could have seen them ending up on some of the better labels of that era, such as Sub Pop, Matador, or Touch and Go.  More people deserved to hear these guys.  But, as they often proclaimed themselves, life doesn’t always work the way you believe it should.  As the lyric in the title track of their final release The Time Was Now says, “So I found me a band but we could not stand each other, but we sounded alright.  We were getting gigs and found a place to play all through the night.  Things went bad just when we finally had a good deal to sign.  That’s what you get when you know you’re all weird and pretend everything is fine.”  Unfortunately, it came true, and Grayling stopped putting out music around 2001.  I highly encourage everyone to claw through bins at music stores everywhere to find anything that might still be hanging around by this wonderful band.  Pretty sure you'll be glad you did.

Listen to "The Time Was Now" here.