Music Review: Kurt Deimer; A Grog is Born

So, I sat down to listen to Kurt Deimer's new album "A Grog is Born". I didn't look at the track list. I didn't do any research, just a total blind listen.

The first track, "In Deep", caught me by surprise, it was a catchy nice fun beat and then I heard this familiar voice. Mind you I didn't know anything about Kurt Deimer, all I could think was who is that voice I know I have heard before of course it was the unmistakable unique voice of Josh Todd of Buckcherry. Nothing makes a new album feel like it has been in your collection for years like being greeted with an old friend. 

The next song that really stood out is the third track "Bye Bye Love You". The two things that really stood out, lyrically Kurt is more of a storyteller than you usually get in this genre. The other thing that stood out was some absolute killer guitar that very much reminded me of the big bands of the 80's. Like arena rock level guitar playing.

So, at this point of the record, I really needed to dig and find some background on Kurt because this record was so unique. It had so many throwback vibes mixing a little Nü-metal with some classic late 80's rock. This is where a lot of things started making sense. This album apparently serves as a sort of companion to Kurts recent horror movie "Scared to Death" where Deimer stars as a Character Grog. This movie is now at the top of my watch list. I can't wait to watch it.

Anyone who knows anything about me knows how big of a sucker I am for a cover. Particularly when the cover is genre bending, track 5 is my type of thing. I have all my life been a huge Phil Collins so a nice dark brooding cover of "In the Air" just hits. I dare you to listen to it and not play some air drums. Knowing this ties into a horror movie as well, this was something I could very easily visualize. 

The next track "Scared to Death" reminded me of something that would actually be performed during the movie.  It feels more like a piece from a dark musical or opera. It might be an odd comparison but if you think back to the movie "Forgetting Sara Marshall" Jason Segal had created a rock vampire opera. Scared to Death seems like it would fit the same way. Like it is impossible to hear this song and not get pulled into some sort of visual experience.

Out of the originals, "Bombs" is probably my favorite song. Combining some blues and funk with a clean metal vocal delivery.  Think if Rob Zombie and Red Hot Chili Peppers were just having a jam session and then amped up in a cinematic way. Very fun, very unique, very memorable. 

The album ends with a truly genius decision for so many reasons. First ending the album with a cover and having the original vocalist do a feature on it just wraps up the album with all these feelings of being someplace you have already been with a new unique twist. Add in the fact that "Silent Lucidity" is already such an iconic cinematic song.  It builds in such a crescendo and it builds that visual. It's so fitting for such a dramatic cinematic album. 

"A Grog is Born" really feels like a daring album, it's grand, it's theatrical, it's big. It feels like the type of project a well-established musician might take on because it seems so risky and really sits in a lane on its own. It feels like Broadway on whiskey bender.  I really hope Kurt Deimer's future projects tie into movies like this because there is something here for sure. I can't wait to see the movie, but you don't have to see it to be able to visualize some dark and grimy dramatic world.