Gris Gris

Former Houstonians Gris Gris psych up For the Season.

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More About

• Greg Ashley
• Sleater-Kinney
• Syd Barrett
• Cultural History
• Classical Music

From Sleater-Kinney's The Woods to new releases from Dead Meadow and Modey Lemon, there's a pretty good psych-rock strain to this year's music, and the latest from Houston-to-Bay Area transplants Gris Gris adds to it. "Ecks Em Eye" slowly ascends into a sax-honking march, and by the third track, front man Greg Ashley and his mates have taken their space shuffle to a galaxy where Syd Barrett writes Gregorian chants. further experiments include a ghostly '50s teen ballad ("Medication No. 4") and the pastoral pastels of "Down with Jesus." Ashley's sly voice, fuzzy production and strong songwriting skills ensure that all this rarely stoops to easy freak-out exploits.