Grumsling - A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea (Self-

Grumsling is a group of indie rockers from the Oakland area, and have just released their new EP __A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea,_ a follow up to last year’s Full Coverage. The band is intent on slowly unfolding the mythology of the twisted titular creature, writing “The Grumsling is a force of mischief. A trickster. He is a force of darkness, but not evil.” Each song, apparently, adds more to the story of The Grumsling, but the themes are oblique enough that the music can be enjoyed for its own merits without attempting to figure out what’s going on.

Each of the five songs on the EP have the same quality as bands like Modest Mouse or Talking Heads, namely that they can create songs with strong pop melodies while still sounding slightly askew, as if they’re an alternate universe’s idea of hits. The standouts among this collection include the funky rhythms of “The Game,” a song that almost verges on the precious with its twistedly childlike melodies, and the jazzy, R&B undertones of “Lightning,” which gradually builds into an electric tempest.

Foregoing all of the storylines, and graphic novels & movies supposedly in the works to enhance the mythology, the fact remains that A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea is just good music.