Psychodots - On the Grid

'I wanna swim in the light, a child in a bright shiny universe.' - 'Big Love Now' Recorded and mixed in 21 late winter days, 1993's On The Grid finds our intrepid trippy trio ('The Godfathers of Cincinnati Power Pop' - Cincinnati Enquirer) in full swing as studio vets playing songs honed during frequent live performances. There's a refined, punchy warmth to this song cycle - perhaps even a reluctant maturity chafing at the constraints of what popular 'modern rock' meant to the masses in the early 1990's: thickly produced 'punk' music embracing fin de siècle themes of alienation, angst, and decay. On The Grid drifts toward dreamy compassion but turns bipolar with fangs attached, knives surgically sharpened on songs like 'Death Ranch' and 'Used To Be'. The wistful self-acceptance of 'King Of Beers', resigned lust of 'Candy' and bloodied wisdom of 'Standing 8' share an element of resilience and informed optimism while careening down a shadowy path to the 'Boneyard.' A gently psychedelicized cover of 'Tired Of Waiting' by The Kinks makes perfect sense in this collection. Listening to 'Grid' is a lot like watching a movie. - Leila Waddell, NYC 2014.

1) Big Love Now
2) Angel
3) Tired of Waiting
4) Candy
5) Laura
6) Used to Be
7) Copy Machine
8) King of Beers
9) Death Ranch
10) Help Yourself
11) Standing 8
12) Boneyard