Search - Story :: Grace in Gravity

Superb harmonies, literate lyrics, top-notch songwriting

Catherine S. Vodrey | East Liverpool, Ohio United States | 03/29/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My introduction to this group came via an old friend who thought that the song "Dog Dreams" was absolutely hysterical. Because of this, I thought The Story was sort of a kitschy, goofy novelty act until I actually bought the album myself. Now I know that "Dog Dreams" is just one of a golden handful of wonderful songs with angelic, soaring harmonies and a wry point of view."Dog Dreams" is a deft, sly song written as though by a dog--actually, a pair of dogs who wreak havoc on the neighborhood in their dreams:"Me and Rex took the car,
Ha, ha, stay home . . . stay.
We're gonna run over
All the neighborhood cats,
'Cause they tease us from
The other side of the fence.
We're gonna go in the swamp
And you can't hose us off.
Dog dreams, dog dreams,
Please don't wake us up!
No bad dog, no stay,
No basement, no way,
No choke chain, no dry food,
No fetch game, no, no, no . . .""Grace in Gravity," the title song, is a meditation on a true story of a black ballet dancer who, after a car accident in South Africa, was paralyzed after the ambulance drivers chose to take the dancer's less gravely injured white companion to a better hospital. It's an astonishing story, beautifully crafted here with The Story's usual minimalist grace. That's the case with almost every song on the album."Over Oceans," though it has its moments, is mostly an annoying, a cappella exercise in wandering, abstract harmonies. "Love Is More Thicker Than Forget" reminds me (not happily) of Suzanne Vega's 1980s hey-day. Aside from these two--the last two songs on the album--this is an album of astonishingly good stuff."

To date, this is my favorite album by any artist.

08/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Grace in Gravity is a rare find. The album is musically adventurous; its lyrics, intelligent; and its vocals, beautiful. Brooke and Kimball's harmonies are delicious and unusual: often, their voices begin in slight dissonance and slowly drop into true. The result is lovely and almost eerie, especially in the a capella "Over Oceans." Both ladies now have successful solo projects, but Grace in Gravity will have you mourning the duo's breakup. One of the album's great strengths is its variety. The up-tempo "The Alarm is on Love," is pop done right, while "Dog Dreams," owing its origins to Gary Larson's The Far Side, is just plain fun. "Easier than Sorry" is mostly chorus, and therefore a bit repetitve, but very catchy nonetheless. While the quality of album's lyrics is generally high, a few songs provide real food for thought. "Damn Everything but the Circus" is an absolute standout, exploring the irrational forces of love with rare objectivity and humanity. The final track, e.e. cummings' "love is more thicker than forget" works surprisingly well as a song. No doubt, such touches led to the album's being labeled "artsy," but don't let that put you off in the least. Good music has universal appeal, and Grace in Gravity is certainly good music."

In a class by itself............

E. Moore | Dallas, TX United States | 05/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first purchased "Angel In the House" after hearing cuts on our only Public Radio Station in Dallas, which, unfortunately no longer plays music. I couldn't get the haunting, beautiful melodies out of my head and had to have MORE... I stumbled upon "Grace In Gravity" in a used CD store and snatched it up immediately. While "Grace" is a little less "pop" than "Angel" - it is one of those CD's that I go back to, year after year to listen to. It's one than I can leave in my player on "Repeat" for an entire day and still want to hear it again. Few other CD's in my collection have that kind of pull on me. This CD will take to to a dream world that you'll want to return to, time and time again.... Buy it!"