Grand Funk Railroad: An overlooked and unappreciated power trio

 Since the birth of what we now know as Rock criticism there have been plenty of bands that have been loved by fans but loathed by critics. Led Zeppelin is the band that comes to most peoples minds and for good reason . However, the one band that truly were the underdogs were none other than Flint, Michigan's very own Grand Funk Railroad . Grand Funk was formed in 1969 by trio Mark Farner (guitar, vocals, keyboards, harmonica), Don Brewer (drums, vocals) and Mel Schacher (bass). The band was heavily influenced by British power trio Cream and with the help of manager Terry Knight, they started to develop a devoted following. I must admit that when I first started listening to Grand Funk I was stuck in the FM radio cycle of hearing the same songs being played over and over like "Closer to home (I'm Your Captain), 'Wer'e an American Band" and their cover of the Brothers Of Soul song "Some Kind Of Wonderful." Thanks to Spotify , I started to really dig into their catalog and I eventually got some of their catalog on vinyl respectfully. For me, the band really found their footing on their second album Grand Funk which is commonly known as the red album. The album kicks off with the explosive "Got This Thing on the Move" and it was this song that made me rethink Grand Funk in a whole new way. All 3 members of the band really know their instruments and their craft and they just cook together seamlessly. The rollocking drumming of Don Brewer , the flashy blues playing of Mark Farner and the louder than life bass playing from Mel Schacher all blend beautifully and it proves that Grand Funk are a band to be reckoned with. Another standout track from that album is "High Falootin' woman". Like the previous song I mentioned , all band members blend beautifully. Mark Farner though is the standout on this track with amazing guitar chops and showcases Johnny Winter fast pentatonic scale runs that are very tasty and they truly groove. 

For their next album Closer To Home there are hidden gems throughout . I still love "Closer to Home (I'm your Captain) as its an epic. The hidden gems on this album though are the ones that do it for me however. The kickoff track "Sin's a Good Man's Brother" is a rollocking hard rock epic with killer guitar playing and is a fan favorite and recently has been cover by guitar prodigy Marcus King and his band The Marcus King Band which is a killer cover. "Nothing Is The Same" is my favorite from that album because it showcases that the band can groove and play fast and they balance the two elements effortlessly. 

Their live album Live Album only further cemented their legacy as a great band . The album showcases that band can really be energetic and tight on stage and proved that they can be a killer live act just like The Who and The Allman Brothers . 

As mentioned, the band has been lauded by critics since their inception. However fans will beg to differ. The band has also had their fair share in popular culture as most notably in The Simpsons timeless episode "Homorpalooza" as Homer goes into great detail with Bart and his classmates on how great Grand Funk is.  Grand Funk is the ultimate underdog band and are a force to be reckoned with . Do yourself a favor and give them further listening you'll be surprised just how good they are. 

A rebel without a clue: Tom Petty's Into The Great Wide Open at 30

On July 2nd, 1991, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers released their eighth studio album Into The Great Wide Open . This was the first album Petty did with his legendary backing band since their 1987 release Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) . I've always preferred this album over Full Moon Fever because of the quality of the songs and because The Heartbreakers were once again backing up Tom Petty. This album as a whole is a testament to not only the band but to heartland rock itself. At the time of the release, 1991 was the year that grunge skyrocketed into the mainstream . Bands like Pearl Jam (Ten), Nirvana (Nevermind), and Soundgarden (Badmotorfinger) were cementing their own legacy into society and each album is a cornerstone of the movement. Into The Great Wide Open proves that good old fashioned Americana/hearltand rock and roll music was and is still as relevant. Not only does this album have great hit singles , the album itself is flawless. For starters , you have "Learning to Fly" which is an uplifting anthem with a classic chord progression and a killer slide solo from Mike Campbell. The title track has a Springsteen style narrative about a young kid named Eddie who after graduating high school heads out to Hollywood to make a name for himself in the music scene. Petty's lyrical are autobiographical as Eddie "made a record and it went in the charts" and how the "A&R man said I don't hear a single". To accommodate to the times with MTV dominating the small screen, the band also accompanied the song with a now iconic music video which features a young Johnny Depp. The album is also packed with hidden gems like the rollocking "Kings Highway" and the laid back Byrds influenced "Two Gunslingers" and cements the fact that Tom Petty was an incredible songwriter. It's hard to believed this album is 30 as it still sounds fresh every time I listen to it and I always seem to find something new to love about. If you haven't given the album a listen in its entirety , I highly say you should do so.