Greg Grant | We Have Eyes

Published: November 4, 2008

New York City native and Fortine musician Greg Grant has put out a self-penned album extolling his love of the land and aversion to so-called progress. He does it with lots of up-tempo numbers in which he plays everything (guitars, saxophone and a bagful of percussion instruments) and production FX.

Rhythmic throughout, Grant’s fifth CD kicks off with punched-up slide guitar (“Out of Ink”), and leads into “Bigger Isn’t Better,” with its catchy intro hook and sparse drums, and what sounds like Grant singing in unison with himself.

His sandpapery baritone anchors the reggae-infused “Montana is My Home”; there’s the soft, folky “She’s a Girl”; and the spooky and jazzy “Everything Is Alright.”

The album ends with the hypnotic instrumental, “Don’t Give Up.” Good production values here, and – get this – liner notes say the songs were recorded with solar power. That’s how you get off the grid!

Visit Grant at www.alteredstates.com.

– Mariss McTucker