Although loud and chaotic, strong melodies and powerful lyrics often sit behind good punk rock songs. That’s why when songwriters from the genre strip things back for an acoustic release, another side of their skillset shines bright.
This stands true to the six acoustic full-band tunes produced by Alkaline Trio’s Derek Grant and Australian singer-songwriter Dan Cribb for a 7″ split released today via Adelaide label Pee Records.
While Grant was in the country earlier this year for Soundwave, playing drums for The Vandals, he and Cribb caught up for a run of co-headline acoustic shows to launch their respective debut solo albums. It was during this time that the seeds were planet for the split release.
Michigan pop-punk act The Swellers were also on the Soundwave bill, and vocalist Nick Diener – who Cribb has worked extensively with on numerous releases – was also billed to play their Melbourne show.
The interaction led to Diener mixing the tunes, and playing bass, electric guitar and singing on Cribb’s songs, while Grant, tracked and played everything himself at home in Vermont.
The result is six songs, four of which will be released on limited edition transparent red with white splatter vinyl. All six feature on the digital release.
You might know Grant as Alkaline Trio’s drummer but, as mentioned above, his skillset goes far deeper. After releasing the odd demo here and there over the years, he dropped his debut record, ‘Breakdown‘, at the end of last year and has already begun work on a follow-up release.
Cribb has also kicked his solo career into action over the past 12 months – releasing debut album ‘As We Drift Apart‘ with his band, The Isolated, in May of this year, following it up with a stripped-back acoustic split with Useless ID’s Yotam Ben Horin in September.
Derek Grant
01. Almost Whole
02. Love Because
03. Little Bit Of Makeup (Digital Only)
Dan Cribb
04. This Is Closure
05. Getting Started
06. I Wanna Do It All With You (Digital Only)
