“Heavily distorted and catchy as hell, don’t sleep on Brooklyn up-and-comers Gross Relations. This fearsome foursome is churning out some sick garage synth-pop that will get in your head and stay there…On Fuzzy Timelines, these dudes somehow manage to make “broken bones and a mutated spine” sound like the most fun you’ve ever had. The second track, “You Don’t Know Me” is simultaneously explosive and sweet, like watching fireworks while eating a popsicle. The timeline may be fuzzy, but the future looks bright for Brooklyn’s Gross Relations.”
Honorable Mention- “I’ve got gross relations, separations, fuzzy timelines, hidden landmines…” We don’t even know what the means, but when the guy from Gross Relations deadpans it over what sounds like a collision between The Rentals and the best high school garage-rock band ever, he sounds like the coolest person on earth. Everything on Gross Relations’ 7-inch (and presumably on their EP out this June) is just slightly off-center and distorted but immensely infectious—like a perpetual hangover put to music.”
“Gross Relations är ett nytt band från Brooklyn som har beskrivits som en hybrid mellan Ramones och Pavement. Bandet skickade mig två splitternya låtar varav jag gillade den här låten Blame The Records allra bäst.”
“Gross Relations have been going less than a year, but seem to have a clear idea with what they want to sound like. With the prominent keyboard lead lines (or maybe it’s heavily-treated guitar?) on both sides of their “Fuzzy Timelines” 7″, it’s pretty easy to make comparisons to The Rentals, but the band they really remind me of is Chicago’s late, great Number One Cup. Either way, it’s a good thing. Gross Relations write some majorly catchy songs.
“The band have been releasing a series of digital singles via their bandcamp page, all of which exemplify their brand of supercatchy, keyboard-friendly indie rock. “Blame the Records” is especially good. As I said previously, those keyboard lead lines make for easy comparisons to the Rentals which I’m gonna guess is probably what they were going for. Which is fine — the hooks are undeniable.”
“The A-side kicks in with a shock of drums and wallop of keys setting the standard that the GR boys stick to like an M.O. They lay back into the groove with an off kilter swagger until things shift bolt upright into the kind of bright pop breakdowns they just don’t make anymore. On the flip they really shine with those seasick keys charging in full bore and a nice touch of fuzz on the vox. The hook sticks in your head like a whiskey coated knife, rearing its head again and again just when you least suspect it. Live, the band will inevitably be branded with the lo-fi tag but with subtle pop touches and the barreling guitars of “You Don’t Know Me”, the tag may soon be lifted. Can’t wait to see where these guys go next.”
“The song “Rewind You,” stirs up Weber’s inner Frank Black and can’t help but have echoes of Pixies guitar along for the ride, while “You Don’t Know Me,” has repetitious lyrics and chords befitting The Ramones— appropriate since it’s Weber’s favorite band. Light organ is thrown into “Don’t Beat On Me” making it almost dance-y…”
“Gross Relations is a new band from Brooklyn that is, indeed, pretty sick. These four dudes rock the lo-fi guitar/bass/distorted vocals thing. You know that thing I mean; the music sounds all fuzzy and messy and, well, lo-fi! But Gross Relations also rock some surprisingly happy sounding keys over all the controlled melodic clutter. And those keys are key indeed. Those keys bring the POP out and make things sound more interesting. Gosh, pop rules, doesn’t it?”
“Fuzzy Timelines is the debut 7″ from Brooklyn band Gross Relations, and true to the title the tracks here blur the line between the current lo-fi garage scene and eighties underground pop by layering fuzzed out guitar and vocals over a background wash of synth keys. The result is a a couple of catchy little numbers that manage to sound both impossibly cynical and hopelessly romantic.”
“This track, from current single Fuzzy Relations is called You Don’t Know Me and from the opening bars it simply grabs hold and hangs on for dear life. Try as you might you’ll not be able to rid yourself of the nagging hook and distorted, but insistent riffs.”
“The song “You Don’t Know Me” follows the more traditional 70’s garage route with distorted vocals and hazy guitar riffs. One thing making it stand out against the other numerous bands executing a similar sound is Joey’s rich baritone. It adds an element of shrewdness and distinguishes them from the more boyish vocals populating the current scene.”
“There’s nothing quite like noise early in the morning, or mid-afternoon, or all night long for that matter. Gross Relations, a new band (like brand spankin’ new), from Brooklyn is your answer to distorted chaos… the kind you never knew your life was missing until you hear it. They’re unsigned, they don’t yet have an album, but man, are they are good, or rather great.”
“This one just bleeped up on the ole’ radar, and I must say I like what I see and hear here! All we really know about Gross Relations at this point is they’re four dudes from Brooklyn, who have written and recorded at least one catchy-ass song. They are at this point unsigned. This is just one of those times there needs to be a Speakers in Code Records.”
“so gestärkt kann man sich sicher auch in einer der am härtesten umkämpften szenen des landes durchsetzen. zudem willigen ein paar ausgebuffte lyrics in diese kombination ein, vorgetragen von einer emotionsgeräderten stimme. da muss man einfach mit! die band ohne vertrag wird sich vorerst über 7″ probieren, etwa wie mit der letzten “fuzzy timeless” benannten. also, denn, viel spaß mit gross relations.”