Michele Jaffe, the singer of Loki the Grump, sounds like she’s been scorned...a lot. Her lyrics are full of despair, being left behind, refusing to be left behind, and being content with it all. The EP opens with "Brand New Me," a song that brings to mind older Green Day and other poppy bands. I love the verses!! Another one I like is "Here I Am," a psychotic song about refusing to let go of, or go away from, the one you love. There’s a live version of "Your War," giving me a hint of what they’d be like live - haunting and memorable. I want to drive far away from here with this as my soundtrack! Loki the Grump seem to already have gathered a good-sized following (which proudly bear themselves as the Grumpies), and have played at places such as CBGBs, the Knitting Factory, and Acme Underground. They plan to expand their tours soon so keep an eye open - I get the feeling this is one show you don’t wanna miss!

It's not going to get much catchier or much more fun than this. Loki the Grump are a female fronted pop-punk band with a flavor of the past mixed with today’s teenie trends. This has attitude, but its cute attitude. You wouldn’t wage war to this CD, but you could certainly dance to it aggressively and enjoy it at the loudest level that your stereo can put out. It won’t be long before you are chanting along with some of the refrains and bouncing up and down in your boots. You can take pride in supporting a strong underground act like this, and they are doing everything to slam dance their way a butt-load of adoring fans.

LOKI THE GRUMP is the itch you love to scratch! LOKI THE GRUMP’s debut EP “The Brink” followed shortly after U2 on the radio show “Out of the Box” and, it really hurts me to say this, they kicked Bono’s butt! Those iPod marketers should rethink their poster boys, because LOKI THE GRUMP is today’s “in yer face” boot stomping punk! Lead singer Michele Jaffe will force you to confront her world of angst and anger, and it will be very intimate, very personal, and not pretty. The band works together to suck you into the vertigo of their grumpiness; you cannot turn away, and you happily submit! Like a rash that stubbornly resists cortisone, LOKI THE GRUMP elbows their way into your heart. Great grinding guitars by Howie Ingerman, throbbing bass by Phil Pham, and dirty drumming by Dawn Moore will pound these songs into your head. This is music to get a speeding ticket to, to push and shove people to, to throw your ex’s stuff out the window to. Grumpiness is something we can all relate to, just like LOKI THE GRUMP’s music. “Brand New Me” is destined to kick and scream its way into mainstream radio, while the darker “How Could I Forget” will easily become the anthem for the mistreated. The moody “Here I Am” lends itself to drunken screeching with your closest girlfriends. If you get a chance to see their live show, “Shockingly Happy” will require your participation, and yes, you will go home with a sore throat. Watch out for darts, too. “The Brink” is a delightful grouchfest of pangful soul-bearing words and sounds. The songs are well written and an apropos mirror of this generation’s struggle with the mind games that seem to go along with the quest for love. Anxiety, frustration, abandonment are all heightened by the musicianship which is punchy, infected by frisky hooks and driving pulse. No ballads please – they are far too grumpy for that! Production is raw, naked, simple, LOUD – like back when Billy Idol was in Generation X, and before Green Day’s greatest hits album. A nicely solid freshman effort, we can expect greater things from this already impish, wickedly entertaining gang. LOKI THE GRUMP is the itch you will love to scratch. Repeatedly.

This NYC upstart has been having a groundswell of support in the clubs. Their first release is brimming with enrgy and will have you bouncing along. The guitarist switches through a barrage of pedals while he is backed up by a solid rhythm section and explosive vocals. Check out "Brand New Me" for a great rock tune and "Your War" for a bit of political punk rock.