Date: 1991. Local New Jersey band The Fundamentals are just about to make the big break to the big-time. After several appearances on national compilations such as CMJ Monthly, through their own record label, an EP (_Feeling Strange) produced by Richard Barone, a bonafide single "Cycles" and countless comparisons to R.E.M., and signing to MCA, things couldn't appear brighter. But, major label politics soon took over, and the imprint which the Fundamentals were signed soon dissolved...leaving the Fundies without a label, and soon, the band broke up.
Fast forward to 1995. After the driving forces behind the Fundamentals (Fran and Matt Azzarto) teamed up with Chris Gefken, the trio became the Gefkens, and soon drew a buzz around New York (Vin Scelsa) and Los Angeles (radio station KROQ). Grind: The Demo Anthology was released to show off the different sides of the Gefkens.
The obvious comparison is *still* the Byrds styled-riffs of R.E.M., with an unabashed amount of power pop added in to flavor the mixture. But rather than be pigeonholed, Grind demonstrates that the band have several avenues in which they can proceed. "Blind" recalls some recent Soul Asylum, while "Thousandaire" emits similarities to the aforementioned should-have-been hit, "Cycles". Ironically, one of the demos with the least production, "Happy" comes across as a powerful, but untapped, acoustic gem.
Yeah, it's 1996, but these guys still haven't seen the chance they truly deserve. With any kind of luck and justice, it will come sooner rather than later.
P.O.S. Records can be reached at 105 10th St. Suite 1 Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 or via e-mail at mattgefken@aol.com
