Album Review: “Past Time” by Grass Widow

Artist: Grass Widow
Album: Past Time
Label: Make a Mess
Rating: 6.5/10

Part sped-up San Fran 60′s psychedelia, part 90′s riot grrl rock, Grass Widow kind of fills the void left by bands like Sleater Kinney and Helium.

Their second album stays the course of their self-titled 2009 release, covering much of the same ground musically, but consistently.  It’s a jaunty stripped down three-piece affair, full of off-kilter harmonies, jangly guitars and syncopated bass and drum work.  The only problem is a lack of variation in the actual songs, with the exception of the standout tracks, the lovely “Landscape” and “Submarine”, which sounds like a lost That Dog track that was meant to go on a DGC Rarities compilation…Without those two tunes,the album wouldv’e gotten majorly claustrophobic.

Basically, it’s a sound album, short, scribbly sketches for a rainy day or a pot party.