by Jare C (@jareccurtis)
When it comes to the sea of innovative indie bands that peppered the scene in the mid to late 2010’s, there are few that are as noteworthy and exploratory as Great Grandpa. With a unique and distinctive blending of grunge, pop, shoegaze, emo, and other aesthetics, the band has made quite a splash with its past few records, the last being the phenomenal Four of Arrows in 2019. Since then, they’ve been working on a wide assortment of side and personal projects. Among them is Freak Accident, the most recent release from Al Menne, the bands’ lead singer - a record that finds him hitting his most intimate, personal, and soft spoken songwriting moments yet.
The most distinctive trait of Menne’s music is almost certainly their voice, a wispy undertone that is at once heartwarming and beckoning. In terms of songwriting, it is very clear that Menne has gone through some high highs and low lows over the past few years, and the storytelling of this record really reflects that. From the effusive and meandering opener, “Kill Me”, to the sleepy and pleading “What U Want,” all the way to the steel guitar laden, crooning title track, Freak Accident is an album chock full of struggle, yet that struggle is lined with joy.
The closing track, “Careful Heart,” is an abundantly sweet and hopeful track about finding someone who you feel like you can build a future with. Throughout the entire record, there’s a profound sense of yearning- yearning to find your community, to find your own identity, to find the right place to be. The ragged edges of Menne’s vocal delivery give way to a profound sweet softness that is both melancholic and full of hope. The instrumentation, while understated, is pitch-perfect, with the guitars, percussion, occasional keys, and bass filling the mix immaculately, giving the perfect compliment to Menne’s presence on the record.
The intimacy of Freak Accident is nothing short of haunting. It’s an album that, at just twenty-eight minutes, becomes easily re-listenable. There are layers within the simplicity of its layout that make the record remarkably essential. This is an album you’ll definitely come back to, and if you enjoy indie singer/songwriter tunes from queer perspectives, you’re certainly going to find something to enjoy and relate to here.