Adam McGrath, as you may know, is one of the masterful musicians behind New England's legendary Cave In. I've been a Cave In devotee since the very beginning, so I was more than interested to dig in to McGrath's first venture into the world of a solo artist. Methuen's Lot is a record about Adam's experiences growing up in small, working class Massachusettes and the characters he's encountered.
"Betray the Dream" is a reflexive, genteel track that is contemplative, distant and ABSTRACT. Lots of melody along with a deliciously simple electric riff in the chorus gives the cut texture and a bit of dissonance. A little bit Magnetic Fields and a touch of 90's alt-rock with post-hardcore sensibilities, it's a solid opener that gives listeners the message that this is going to be different from Cave In in terms of heft and vigor, but not so different in terms of the centering of affect as the primary take-away for the listener. Similar is "In Memoriam," which has a bit more accent on the keyboards and touch more solemnity.
"Baremeadow Lane" continues with song constructed with a strong chorus and softer, trippier versus. There's an airy feel to it and slight nod to the space rock of Cave In's Jupiter record, but just ever-so-much.
I can only image what "Neighborhood Bird Dispute" is about lyrically, but I know that I love the song. A perfect mix of acoustic and electric guitars that, at times, uses McGrath's signature spaced out/fuzzed out tone you hear so often in Cave In songs, it's an abstract composition that gets you thinking, but still remains accessible.
"Empty Moon" showcases the lighter side of McGrath's song creation and is very much a 180-degree away from the heft and bombast of what he's thus far been known for. "Thoughts of You" uses the same formula for the first half until it goes all New Hampshire acid trip halfway through.
McGrath uses an array of instruments on this record including the obvious acoustic and electric guitars as well as the melodica, ukulele, keyboards and, of course, his voice. Fellow Cave In member Stephen Brodsky produces the record and sings on the track "Thoughts of You." Another familiar face, J.R. Connors also of Cave In, plays the drums on three of the cuts.
Overall, McGrath's work are sometimes raw, sometimes warm and often ruminative. There is an earnestness and a yearning felt throughout in the sense that Methuen was both a place of great joy but also sorrow. Certainly fans of Cave In will be very interested in the LP, provided they set their expectations appropriately. There is no "New Reality" or "Moral Eclipse" here but if you really dig the risks the band takes and appreciate the creativity of McGrath, this is a record you'll love.
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