M.E. Grant

These days, the commercial music industry is crowded to overflowing with predictably frothy pop music – the sociological equivalent to a really bad drug (or poison) that is implanted into the public's food and drinking water and is simply ingested without question. Indeed, it could be argued that the U.S. music market is only symptomatic of the American music buyer and his/her consumer mindset.

'It's popular, therefore it must be good.'

Not so. Seriously – what does it say about the average American musical consumer when a recording by someone as predictable an American Idol winner – whomever that may be – is highly-anticipated?! By no means am I suggesting that the 'Idol program doesn't showcase decent talent (from time to time), but the show's popularity and (worse) legitimacy with music buyers is endemic of a rather submissive music-buying mindset – a consumer, not so much a connoisseur – and one that settles for less!

My musical idol, Jody Watley, first coined the phrase "boutique-style" music several years ago – a rightful maxim denoting music that isn't so much made for mass-consumption, but geared toward the listener that is in search of a little something special. Watley has definitely been on the cutting-edge throughout her career, as have artists like King Britt, 4hero, Joi Cardwell, Ultra Naté and Amel Larrieux.... the list goes on. There also exists one such artist in the person of M.E. Grant!

I know what you're saying...

'But there are a LOT of independent electronic artists on MySpace. What makes M.E. Grant better (or different) from any of them?'

Well, for starters – M.E. Grant continues to evolve and make new music; he's not one of these posers creating a MySpace site for the sole purpose of playing around and never reaching some kind of audience – be it small or mainstream. Indeed, Grant regularly blogs on his influences and personal muses – his catharses, if you will. M.E. Grant's influences – Madonna, Tina Turner, Chic, Goldfrapp (among others) – are diverse, and he always manages to keep it fresh, creating various moods and experimenting with sonic textures. His [Grant's] sound is largely electro, but his command of instrumental pop song-structure – coupled with his unwillingness to conform to pop music trends – are admirable (to say the least) .

Grant has an EP available titled, The Love Times Ten. It's available through CD Baby – a veritable cornucopia of indie artists some good (and some not-so good) – as well as iTunes.

You can visit M.E. Grant on MySpace, and also at his official website, me-grant.blogspot.com. - Mervin Malone

A performance artist and a synth-pop fusionist in the vein of the late Patrick Cowley ("Menergy", "Megatron Man"), M.E. Grant's intricate productions combine sleek electronic instrumentation with a sure sense of pop songcraft. His first official full-length, Imagination, Volumes I & II showcases a sure-handed dance music ecclecticism coupled with an authentic sexuality that has been all-too absent since the aforementioned Cowley's demise in the early '80s.

Imagination is an epic release – the musical equivalent of an interstellar journey across space and time – not the galaxy-saving kind, but a futuristic quest for knowledge, self-worth and love. From the celestial energy in tracks like the album-opener "2010", to more straight-ahead mid-tempo electro tracks: "Long Way Up" and "Respect You" to the melancholic downtempo of "The Saddest Song" – the listener is exposed to a myriad of themes, moods and musical textures. Songs like "We Are Friends" and "Land of Sand" capture M.E. at his most organic and sensual (respectively), while "TV, Movies and the Radio", "Drink to Remember" and "Thing Thing" reveal a subtle Prince-like influence.The title track – which has subtly building melodies seguing into stunning electronic string chords – displays M.E.'s penchant for novelty. And he [Grant] even displays his soulful side on "The Nerve". Grant's voice is fluid and resonant throughout and – unlike artists of like-minded recordings – not secondary to the music.

When all is said and done, Imagination is a surreal (and demanding) musical experience of star-faring proportions! - Mervin Malone