A greylag is a type of goose known for being the last to migrate, literally lagging behind other geese. That’s a fitting metaphor for the band Greylag, a Portland trio whose debut full length is out now on Dead Oceans.
Greylag’s brand of Americana-tinged folk rock isn’t really a brand at all. It’s more of a copy of a copy of a copy. The Phil Ek- produced songs follow the same trajectory as other Ek tooled bands like Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses, who’ve already done what Greylag is trying to do, only earlier and better.
That’s not to say that Greylag’s self-titled LP is without merit. The members are in control. The sound is crisp and professional. When Greylag pushes their personal envelope the music is lifted, psychedelic and percussive. Yet, these moments of mild abandon are few and far between in what is a mostly repetitive and predictable album.
Rating: 6 out of 12 cans of PBR!