PopMatters:
Grubstake: ANYHOW - Unconventional, but unarguably punk:
"Grubstake is a punk band in the truest sense of the word. Not that they play simple three-chord songs with buzzsaw guitar distortion and no solos—there’s some of that, but not much—but on a deeper level they embody a kind of DIY ethic that doesn’t worry too much about, y’know, sound quality or musical proficiency. Violin, accordion and toy piano aren’t exactly staples of the punk aesthetic, and their inclusion should let you know that you’re not entering typical Ramones/Bad Religion/Blink 182 territory. “The Great Escape” kicks things off with murky guitar noodling and a marked absence of power-chord bashing, which is taken up in subsequent tunes like “Spirit of Dublin” and “Telephone Message from Cadillac Franky Z.”
-AD Amorosi, Ice Pack/Philadelphia Citypaper:
"Grubstake, Paddy Wax McHugh’s accordion-fueled pub-punk cabaret act (think Pogues meet Black Lips) has a new album Anyhow. For those of you unfamiliar with McHugh, he’s a deliciously gnarly storyteller and a brusque singer and the Grubbies are always up for a damn rough good bad time as the groove drifts from skiffle country swing to pounding rawk out. Go man go.”
WRUV (90.1fm Burlington, VT):
"A longstanding band in the East Coast’s underground scene, Grubstake release a gritty and punk era reminiscent album with “What’s the Point in a New C.D. Anyhow”. The lo-fi analog home recordings give a dirty feel to the songs, which tend to use a wide variety of instruments such as fiddle, toy piano, and accordion, while still remaining centered around guitar. Tracks such as “I Wanna Be Well” (a Ramones cover) show the bands punk side, whereas “Vurdalak” shows the bands adventurous side through accordion and chanting vocals that remind one of a pub song. The simple but driving guitar riffs are the focal point of many songs and are very enjoyable to anyone who enjoys their share of punk. I recommend this album to anyone into the underground scene or looking for something different than the typical mainstream rock release (in a good way), it will not disappoint."
Baby Sue:
Grubstake - What's the Point in a New C.D. Anyhow (CD, Nine Mile, Pop)
These guys play fun, upbeat guitar-driven pop/rock. You can tell by the energy on this album that the main emphasis is on having a good time playing. None of that ultra cool hipster shit going down here...What's the Point in a New C.D. Anyhow is a pure upbeat experience delivered with a sense of humor. While the bulk of the album consists of originals, the band also includes covers of "I Wanna Be Well" (The Ramones) and "History Lesson Pt. II" (The Minutemen). Our favorite tracks include "The Great Escape," "The Guy Who Doesn't Get It," "Spirit of Dublin," and "Slowlo Astronaut (Safe Return)."
Roctober:
"This is not only post post-punk, it's post post post post-punk. It's so post-everything it sounds like Paul McCartney having a lazy writing session with Jandek and Tom Waits."
WLUR (Lexington, VA):
"Rock, pure and simple: that's what longstanding band Grubstake is delivering with their newest record, Anyhow. With a new bit of grit thrown into their mix of lo-fi analog home recordings, their repertoire now includes some old-time-like tunes and a cover of two older bands (i.e. Ramones and The Minutemen). Things are quieter on the album (for the most part), and they obviously are not competing for the same audience as The White Stripes, but the band is still able to grab your attention with their rock'n ways."
Recording in the dirtiest way possible on 8-track tape recorders remains a Grubstake signature and defines the bands' sound to-date. It is that sound though, that straight-out of the garage sound, that lets a listener know that Grubstake may not write the next hit pop single or be played on their local top 40 station but they just might be making some of the most interesting music of their time.
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