Grand National

Most of the ink spilt in the name of Grand National's latest full-length, A Drink and a Quick Decision, focuses on the "late-night" timbre of its 12 tracks. Take one listen to the star-lit synth plod of "Cut by the Brakes" or the gentle strum of "Pack All The Things You Need," and it's not difficult to see why. Indeed, the London-based duo's second long player deals in heavy-eyed 3 a.m. pop music and hazy thoughts stolen from the moments between wakefulness and sleep.

It's hard not to note the absence of specifics in Grand National's lyrics, or the reserved, simple quality of most of A Drink's instrumentation. But you needn't worry that the broad strokes and lowered pulse rate will get you yawning. More often than not, Grand National save their songs from dullness with big melodies, like the belters on "By The Time I Get Home…," or carefully placed hard charges like the peaks of "New Space to Throw."

—Robbie Mackey
09.06.07