Greenland

They play the kind of music, that we would call “old fashioned� (and mean it as the highest of compliments) in the sense that the hooks hook you, the lyrics are clever yet not unpenetratable (and always with a sense of humor even in the saddest of moments), glazed over with whimsical riffs (and the occasional seemingly found sound), and the vocal harmonies are out to break your soul and heart. While still allowing you to rock out. You know, the way music is supposed to feel. - brightestyoungthings.com

There are two traps for those who make emo. One, you can ignore musicianship and just play really loud, so as to represent raw emotion. Two, you can dive so deep into your personal poetry that you become ridiculous. Unsigned local trio Greenland deftly avoids both pitfalls with this remarkably strong album. Fifteen well-crafted tracks combine dark, stormy guitar with lyrics that, while youthful and introspective, come out surprising: “You look like a good idea from far away�; ““I’m afraid of dying alone with a name I don’t really love on the tombstone next to mine�; “I want to take you out in the blue-grey cornfield, drink a bottle of bourbon and kiss your neck�. The boys capture a certain erotic melancholy, play tunes that stay in your head, and break it up with just enough humor: “No I won’t sign there on your underwear, Sara!� The four throwaway tracks are a perfect offset to the constant risk of taking themselves too seriously – another trap that Greenland avoids. Good stuff. - On Tap Magazine

A few weeks ago, we made our way to a benefit show in a Florida Avenue townhouse, where the all-star lineup included Greenland ... and we were out-and-out sold. We were ready to stand next to the LaRouchies at Connecticut and K and hand out flyers on how Greenland is the truth, the way, and the light. I'm not even lying.
- dcist.com

Sliding over to the end of the bar to say hello to the staff at the Hut, Lary, the owner, takes my hand and just smiles at me and says “man I love seeing Greenland here.� I can see/hear what he means. Greenland is no secret in DC. In fact, I am hard pressed to think of another band who is friendly with more groups in the indie scene than this trio. That doesn’t mean they should be taken for granted though and the chance to see them in this setting should be a must. In the middle of the set they hit me with the “you look like a good idea from far away� line in “Forward Frame to Frame� and I think that they are just the opposite. The collection of boys with mussed hair and girls that look like Sherilyn Fenn bouncing away seem to agree with me.
Drifting to the back (perfect crowd as it is packed but in a cozy sense and not in that shoulder to shoulder wedge) I take in the muscular rhythm section locking in and out of place and Jamie’s occasionally drifting guitar solos. The interplay between the players reminds me of Dumptruck for a minute and then quickly shifts gears into early New Order and then into what they confess is a Rainbow inspired moment of wank. The double vocals of Jamie and Tony bring the lyrical drive to the forefront and you can connect in an anthemic way with each line. Greenland’s lyrics and much of their set is delivered in a “wink wink� manner that is not cloying or cute but more in a sense of “can you believe this is our lives?� In fact, I am not sure that anyone speaks more directly to the overeducated twenty-something crowd in this town than Greenland does.

My generation of songwriters were filled with self analysis while the current crop is filled with self awareness. Green darts back and forth with absurd observations of text messaging and caribou crushing snowflakes all the while staying true to the basic rock and roll desire for carnal activity as he describes in detail every curl of hair on the lovely before him. His beard, sweater and sheepish smile seem to say to the assembled “hey, I am trying to grow up but it looks like I am just growing older� as he closes with “Greenland pt. 2″ bouncing from kissing your ear to listening to tales of impending global doom. You can tell he is happiest doing both.

Twin Earth - brightestyoungthings.com / John Foster

NPR.org, July 20, 2007 - Though occasionally dabbling in psychedelic and strange sounds and imagery, Greenland is a no-frills rock 'n' roll trio akin to fellow Washington, DC residents, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists.

Their first full-length album, Call Message, lives in a genre they dub "slacker rock" meant to "remind listeners of a stoner older brother," they say. This might suggest a lazy sound, but Call Message is anything but boring. Throughout the disc, the strong dual vocals recall early Libertines.

With its faux-disco drumbeat and prominent bass line, "We Are Clipper Ships" just might get you off that couch. - NPR

Greenland

Call Message

A remarkably strong disc from this unsigned local trio, combining stormy guitar rock, compulsive hooks and surprisingly fresh lyrics of youthful introspection: “You look like a good idea from far away�; ““I’m afraid of dying alone with a name I don’t really love on the tombstone next to mine�; “I want to take you out in the blue-grey cornfield, drink a bottle of bourbon and kiss your neck.� You could call it emo, or maybe post-emo: The boys capture a certain erotic melancholy, play tunes that stay in your head and break it up with just enough humor. - On Tap Magazine

Greenland is a three piece indie outfit from Washington, DC who put out a full length LP in July of this year called Call Message. When you listen to their music you get a sense of depth. There's more to what you're hearing. There's power. Yeah, I know that sounds a bit strange, but trust me, they're good. The music side is solid and tight. The lyrics are not contrived and really come across as poetry when I listen to them. Another thing I'm impressed with is the lack of formula to the writing of songs. Most young indie rock bands like to stick to the old verse chorus verse style(which has worked for a while now, so it's not bad), but Greenland seems to compose the structure of the song around the lyrics, striving to produce a desired emotion or statement. This gives each song a honest and fresh feel. If that doesn't get you interested, I don't know what will. - Pasta Primavera

I didn't know a whole lot about Greenland before they sent me a copy of this debut. Once I received it, I was blown away by this 3-piece. They have managed to create a sound entirely their own, yet it still sounds completely familiar. This CD is full of sing-a-longs, dual vocals and one of the best rhythm sections in DC. - Instrumental Analysis