Oakland-based band Idiot Grins have given the world 5 albums, and the latest is Hounds of Mess Around. Known for their fusion of R&B, soul, and alt-country, the band has developed a reputation for blending genres and taking creative risks. Their latest effort continues this trend, offering an upbeat collection of songs with danceable rhythms and layered instrumentation.
Idiot Grins have been active for over a decade, releasing their debut album Quarry in 2012, followed by Big Man in 2015, and State of Health in 2017. The latter album, featuring the Byrd Sisters, produced two successful digital radio hits: “Get Busy Dying,” which reached the Top 10, and “Take It Back,” which landed in the Top 20. Their 2020 album, Thoughts & Prayers, took a different direction, reinterpreting the Louvin Brothers’ 1959 gospel album Satan is Real.
Reflecting on the recording process of Hounds of Mess Around, the band shared, “This is our fifth full-length album. We all gave each other COVID during one of the first sessions but managed to recover from that to finish the album in a leisurely twelve months.”
The band’s previous releases have garnered critical praise. Big Man was described by Elmore Magazine as “an amalgamation of music that’s near and dear to them; a blend of what they accomplished before and their admiration of Stax classics.” Big Takeover noted, “The entire length of Big Man is a classy, burning slice of soul, and would have easily found a home in the record shops of the ’60s.”
Similarly, State of Health was well received, with HuffPost calling it “a scrumptious album. The melodies are catchy and drenched in charming harmonics, while the vocal harmonies set the entire album apart.” Blogcritics praised the album’s ability to “resurrect the persistent, flamboyant grooves, gooey wah-wah pedals, fluid vocal harmonies, and the braying brass of Hayes’ blend of psychedelia, soul, and deep southern blues.”
For fans of genre-crossing sounds and rich harmonies, Hounds of Mess Around showcases Idiot Grins’ continued evolution, offering an optimistic and engaging listening experience.
Nadia Elkharadly
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