The Commonwealth Of American Natives – Organ Grinder

Madison, Tennessee quartet The Commonwealth Of American Natives loves getting drunk and living on the street so much that it monopolizes their singing habits.  Their debut EP, Organ Grinder (named after one of those 19th century buskers with a monkey) consists of four gruff tunes celebrating a life of abuse and excess.  Their combination of beer-drenched vocals and dirty chords sound most influenced by bands at one time signed to Red Scare Industries or Fat Wreck Chords.

Along those lines, a lot of memorable bands come to mind throughout Organ Grinder, particularly Against Me!, Cobra Skulls, and later Star Fucking Hipsters.  Opener “Opry Burning Down” channelsReinventing Axl Rose era Tom Gabel, garnering instant comparisons with the seminal tune “Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong.”  In a similarly upbeat tone, Alex Rowe sets the mood as he celebrates in a gravely battle cry “Call it a wasteland, I still call it my Graceland… I can’t escape it and I feel it in my bones, this place is home… Abandoned hopes and the poverty just grows.  There’s no place like home.”

The path of destruction doesn’t end there, with the very Star Fucking Hipsters-esque sounding “Drugs Aren’t A Fad” introducing the craggy female crunch of Jaques De Graauw as they celebrate their Demerol snorting, inebriated downward spiral in a brazen disregard for health last shared by self-destructive abuse of the late GG Allin.  “Self-Medication” serves as the EP’s token slow country twanger, drawing musical comparisons to early Cobra Skulls, and lionizing their brash lifestyle with a dedicated ode to “every brain cell that I’ve destroyed.”  The final track serves as a big ‘ole middle finger to those who might frown upon or demonize their choices.

Organ Grinder presents The Commonwealth Of American Natives with a workable foundation from which to grow.  Their sound overcomes their obvious inspirations, and their first four songs make a strong case that the band should aim for a full length.  However, without judging their lifestyle, the group would do well to broaden their content and speak to something more meaningful – be it politics or social issues.  Four songs of self-indulgence are manageable, but anymore might leave listeners a little dry.  As it stands, Organ Grinder is a solid introduction to the band’s personal mantra, but I’d be interested to know their outlook on more than just drugs and alcohol.