Caught in the Carousel

Grace Basement

New Sense
Dren Records

New Sense is a catchy, genre-crunching jukebox of garage, pop, and Americana. Kevin Buckley, the man behind Grace Basement, composes melodies like the Beatles, writes lyrics with the humor of Camper Van Beethoven, and sounds like Wilco backed by the Beach Boys. This debut CD is hook-filled and fun, and sure to bring out the inner drummer in anyone.

Buckley has been backing other St. Louis musicians for years, and with Grace Basement, he's finally stepping out to showcase his own material. He shows a heck of a range. Some songs are mainstream rock; others are raw and crunchy, with a Weezer, garage-rock sound. "Marie" is a sweet ballad, straight out of McCartney's back pocket. The closing track, "As Far as I Know," is like a modernized "Happy Trails," a rambling goodnight and good luck as the barman shouts last call.

Favorite tracks: "Santa Fe," which is the cheeriest cry-in-your-beer song I've ever heard; "BPP," "Orphan Annie and the Dump Truck," and "You Must Go Home," because they raise my spirits after a long workday; and the aforementioned "Marie" and "As Far as I Know."

All the tracks on New Sense were recorded and performed by Buckley, establishing that he's more than just an award-winning fiddle player. It’s a solid first project, and Grace Basement could hold its own on a playlist with anyone from Neil Finn to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. My biggest complaint is that it’s short—with ten Beatles-length tracks, it's not long enough to get me through a workout. But then, that's what Repeat is for.

— Lyn Dunagan