Who doesn't need to chill ouit a little? So when the music of Mike Grutka came across my desk I was all too happy to give it a listen. The music is described as rock, pop, alternative, folk. Clearly it leans heavily on the folk part, but doesn't lull you to sleep.

Grutka's plaintive vocals pulls you into his world and picks you up and holds you and eases your mind. It's easily something you can listen to regardless of who you have around. The music is just that pleasant. Well crafted tracks. Produced properly, not overly polished. Just right. 

Cross posted from Baxojayz-Centricity
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Singer/songwriter Mike Grutka is hell bent on never sticking to any one musical style.  He hops – chameleon-like – from genre to genre, like an impatient driver flipping around the radio dial while stuck in morning traffic. 

The best Grutka is one that digs old R.E.M. recordings, and even older Byrds discs. “Denver (Spinning Around)” is one such winning guitar jangle fest that brings to mind those days back when Michael Stipe mumbled his lyrics and nobody cared. The song’s lyric talks about seeking meaning in travel. While name-dropping big city names all over the States, Grutka mentions at one point: “Walking out will set you free/When I finally left the path they’d shown me.” This last line, in particular, suggests that true happiness is only discovered when one sets out to make his or her own path. “Come With Me” comes off a little like a nice Byrds-y ballad. Its lyric also suggests there is power in motion. “Take me by the hand, come away,” Grutka pleads. Grutka uses a similar lyrical device during “The Sea” where he suggests, “Take my hand and life is sweet”. 

If this album is a puzzle, then some of its pieces don’t seem to fit. “Sunshine” has some nice faux-classical production, which is still slightly out of place, but “Standing Beside Me” is based around drum machine synth-pop which may not be Grutka’s best fitting musical outfit. Speaking of synth-pop, by the way, “Everything” appears to have stolen the melody for the Pet Shop Boys’ “It’s A Sin”. But this song, which tries to convince a girl that everything in her life is leading her to him, has a bit of a musical hall shuffle going for it, with sweet, almost barbershop, harmonies. In other words, outside of the melody, this ain’t no Pet Shop Boy track.

This album’s title shows up in its last song, called “Lifetime (Ria)”, which is the quietist track on the record. Like a lot of the other songs on this CD, its lyric is deeply philosophical. It’s hard to tell if Grutka is praising God, a girl, or some other unnamed or vaguely described benefactor. He sings: “The gifts you bring tonight/Make me whole again/Whispers in the wind/My own”. It’s the sort of song that closes proceedings by reassuring listeners that Grutka has found some sort of personal peace. It also suggests that this is not a peace discovered by everyone. “See all the people in the night/Who say they’d like to know it.” 

Grutka’s voice is on the thin side, which sometimes hampers the effectiveness of his singing. But he does the best he can with what he has, and surrounds himself with complimentary production that allows his voice to nicely fit in, rather treat it like a vocal showcase. Ria is a good pop album, for lack of a better term. There are cases where Grutka inputs rock elements, such as a Neil Young-ish electric guitar solo at one point. But these elements are always in service of the songs, and never cases for Grutka to get all crazy and rock out. It’s readily apparent that Grutka enjoys experimenting. Far too often, artists get in the studio with rigid visions, and output equally rigid recordings. However, if Grutka wants any advice on the one primary style to stick with, the jaunty pop of “Denver (Spinning Around)” is so enjoyable, another 11 songs nearly like it wouldn’t at all be a bad thing. It’s the sort of song that sounds like a hit. It’s also the kind of song you’d likely turn up loud if you heard it on the radio. And because it’s lyric is primarily about travel, it’s almost the perfect road song. 

Mike Grutka has a lot of fine music in him. One has to wonder what else he has up his sleeve.


Review by Dan MacIntosh
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There are few artists out there anymore that transcend. The type of artists that used to take you away from the mundane of the everyday, and deliver you into spaces of passion, emotion and soul. With the harmonies of their voice and the magic behind their music they wouldn’t just create songs; they created worlds. Mike Grutka has created such a world, and it’s called Ria.


The Tracks: 

Top Of The World – This first track off of Ria introduces listeners to Mike Grutka’s gruff yet smooth voice. At times, particularly during this track, it sounds very much like Tom Petty fussed with R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. It’s sweet with just a hint of a twang. The result is unique enough that  it acts as a crucial cornerstone for the entire album and could either make or breaks most tracks. Luckily Mike Grutka’s voice vastly makes most of the tracks on this album. With “Top of the World” in particular it turns a simple pop melody in the vein of The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” into an alternative/folk track that would make Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers proud. 

Denver (Spinning Around) – Deserves to be the one that makes Mike Grutka a household name. It’s not a song of breakout moments, but it doesn’t need them. With catchy hooks that sink in deep and a rhythm similar to R.E.M.’s hit “Shiny Happy People,” this song has single written all over it. 

Sunshine – With this track Grutka explores a more 80’s synth sound. While this exploration of sound seems to work with its ethereal qualities, it doesn’t quite fit his style like the alternative genre tracks. Still, he presents some incredibly haunting vocals on this track that are worth hearing again and again.

Standing Beside Me – This track has a bit of a rough start, but once it finds it's footing it’s a solid song with smooth feel-good vibes that again seems to draw from the early days of R.E.M.’s career. It’s not a particularly exciting track, but it does continue the general joyous mood felt throughout Ria. 

Come With Me - Mike seems to effortlessly flow between the more alternative/folk stylings of bands like The Jayhawks and the ethereal elegancy of The Verve. The ease of which he can switch between the two is impressive to say the least. “Come With Me” in particular touches on the more sublime side of The Verve. It’s a very dreamy song that almost feels like a modern day lullaby, only this song won’t be putting you to sleep anytime soon.

The Sea – In essence this track feels like a progression of “Come With Me.” The guitar is simply amazing. It's orchestral by nature but has a pop/rock flair. It should be noted that throughout this album the instrumentals consistently deliver rich soundscapes that effortlessly establish the mood of each song, though with this song in particular the music is simply mind-blowing. It reaches far beyond the ear and touches the soul.

Goodbye – With this track Mike Grutka’s voice takes on a more John Lennon quality, which is fitting since the melody is very similar to Lennon’s “Mother.” It’s a slow song though, that is perhaps a bit too slow. The music is superb and vocals are spot on for this type of song, but about halfway through this six minute track it begins to grow tiring. Perhaps if the song were shorter it would have worked better.

Actress – With sweet music box melodies, you can't help but smile while listening to this track. Mike Grutka is a master of setting mood, especially uplifting ones. This track just proves that. It’s a song of innocence, charm and nostalgia.

Everything - Repetitive style becomes a bit too repetitive with this track. It is catchy, but verges on annoying at times. Mood wise it succeeds in that the song feels very rushed and on-the-go. That mood just doesn't translate well for the listener.

Same Thing – This track touches on Mike Grutka’s alternative/folk roots, but keeps the 80's synths of other tracks. The synths probably should have been more reserved if not completely left out though. They over power the song and lessen what could have been a really great alternative track. Sometimes less is more.

Sleep Of Dreams (Angels) - This track looses the 80's ethereal vibe and returns Mike Grutka to the alternative genre. Unfortunately this track isn't very exciting. Granted, it's meant to be moody, but there just isn't the same "it" factor here as other tracks like "Top Of The World" and "The Sea."

Lifetime (Ria) – There is definitely an early 90’s vibe to this track. Again, it's very much in the vein of The Verve. It's a simple moody song that unlike "Sleep Of Dreams" has an "it factor." It's that vibe that transcends a song from being just another track and makes it an experiences. This track and many others off of Ria transcend.

The Verdict:

Ria is an album of hits and misses, but when one of its tracks is a hit it becomes much more than just a song–it transcends. These are the songs that paint soundscapes of jubilee. They reach beyond the earbud and became something tangible. The become something that stays with you. There my may be misses on this album, but Ria is a hit.


Review by Zack Daggy
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