Bad Timing

Uncut - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A raucous, righteous paean to the mythological decadence of their hometown....It's their dirty, lowdown rock pastiches that truly score..." Mojo - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Tarry guitars with surprisingly poignant lyrics of good times gone bad....It rings seductively true..."

For Grand Mal's third full-length, Bad Timing, the band works with its rock & roll strut and campy appeal for a divine garage rock romp. It's obvious that these New York City boys worship the sexy rule of 1970s rock gods -- David Bowie, Mick Jagger, MC5 -- but they're not entirely consumed by such an image either. Grand Mal is strict in defining its own brand of rock & roll on this record, and producer Dave Fridmann (the Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Mogwai) keeps Grand Mal in line. While B.R.M.C. turns up the amp all the way, Grand Mal sticks to a lower volume to allow Bad Timing to simply arrive. Songs like "Old Fashioned" and "1st Round K.O. offer a subtle swagger, whereas "Get Lost" and the gospel-tinged "Black Aura" tame the band's ambitious playing style for something more inviting. Grand Mal isn't going for anything bombastic with Bad Timing, but it's a good dose, a healthy spoonful of new millennium indie rock. ~ MacKenzie Wilson|