TRUE LOVE AND HIGH ADVENTURE

Rating Star

Advertisement

BOTH BMG/GRAVITY

The first two albums from brothers Julian and Danny Wilson’s Grand Drive, both originally released on Loose, established them as leading British exponents of Americana. Last year’s third album was the band’s most assured to date, but still lacked that killer song to confer immortality. All their influences are on parade on these earlier albums, from Jayhawks to Teenage Fanclub. The harmonies are top drawer, the guitars shimmer, and all that’s missing is that indefinable extra spark. Never mind. It took the Fanclub three attempts to come up with Bandwagonesque and for the Jayhawks to arrive at Hollywood Town Hall. Listening to Grand Drive, you suspect it’s just a matter of time.