Grand – ‘Guilty Pleasure’

(Frontiers Music)

There are some albums that you admire, some that you enjoy, and then there are those rare records that just seem to get under your skin and connect with you on a much deeper level. Grand’s Guilty Pleasure is very firmly in that latter category for me. I absolutely love this band, and once again they have delivered an album that demonstrates exactly why. This is AOR at its most emotive, uplifting and heartfelt, packed with the kind of melodies, harmonies and instantly memorable choruses that make you want to hit repeat before the final notes have even faded.

Grand have created a very particular musical identity, one that manages to combine the polished sophistication of classic AOR with a wonderfully modern sense of melody and emotion. There is nothing cynical or overly complicated about what they do. Instead, they understand that sometimes the most powerful thing a rock band can deliver is simply a great song that makes you feel something. Guilty Pleasure is absolutely bursting with those moments.

From the opening bars, there is an infectious positivity running through the album. This is upbeat music, but it is never lightweight. Beneath the bright melodies and beautifully crafted arrangements there is a real emotional depth, and that is probably the biggest reason why these songs resonate with me so strongly. Grand have a knack for taking universal feelings, love, longing, hope, regret, desire and the need to believe that things can get better and turning them into soaring AOR anthems.

The songwriting is undoubtedly one of the album’s greatest strengths. These are songs constructed around memorable hooks rather than musical showing-off, and that gives Guilty Pleasure an immediate accessibility. You don't need to spend weeks dissecting the arrangements to appreciate what Grand are doing. The melodies simply work. They lodge themselves in your head, and before long you'll find yourself humming along without even realising it.

That doesn't mean this is simplistic music, though. There is a tremendous amount of care in the production and musicianship. Everything sounds beautifully polished without becoming sterile, while the arrangements allow the emotional character of the songs to shine through. Jakob Svensson’s guitars have plenty of warmth and sparkle, the rhythm section provides a solid foundation and the keyboards add that essential AOR sheen without overwhelming the songs.

Vocally, Mattias Olofsson is very impressive. There is an emotional honesty to his performances that makes the lyrics feel believable rather than simply sung because they happen to be on the page. His delivery is passionate when it needs to be, tender when the mood calls for it, and always perfectly suited to Grand’s melodic approach. These songs demand to be felt as much as heard, and the vocals are a huge part of making that happen.

Maja Thorén’s keyboards are another huge part of what makes Guilty Pleasure such an enjoyable listen. They provide that unmistakable AOR gloss without ever becoming overbearing, adding colour, atmosphere and warmth to the arrangements. There is a lovely balance between the shimmering, melodic keyboard textures and the guitars, with both working together rather than competing for attention. The result is a beautifully polished sound that feels instantly familiar while still sounding fresh and contemporary. Those subtle layers often sit beneath the melodies, adding depth and emotional weight, while the bigger keyboard moments help give the choruses that extra sense of lift.

What I particularly love is how the keyboards contribute to the emotional character of the album. They aren't simply there to provide decoration or recreate an Eighties sound; they are an integral part of the songwriting. Whether adding a gentle atmospheric backdrop, reinforcing a melody or helping a chorus explode into life, they constantly enhance the mood of the songs. There is a real sophistication to the way they are used, and they help create that warm, uplifting quality that makes Grand so easy to connect with. For anyone who loves classic AOR with beautifully crafted melodies, these keyboards are absolutely the icing on the cake.

What I particularly love about Guilty Pleasure is its ability to make you feel good without resorting to empty positivity. There is a genuine warmth here. Even when the subject matter touches upon heartache or uncertainty, Grand never allow the music to become weighed down by it. There is always a sense of hope lurking somewhere beneath the surface. The result is an album that feels like musical sunshine, the sort of record that can genuinely lift your mood after a difficult day.

There is also a wonderfully nostalgic quality to the album. Grand clearly understand the traditions of AOR, but they aren't simply trying to recreate the Eighties. Instead, they take the melodic values of that era and give them their own personality. The choruses are huge, the melodies are gloriously polished and the production is crisp, yet the emotional core feels completely genuine.

And that brings me back to the word that best describes Guilty Pleasure for me: connection. I connect with these songs. I connect with the emotions. I connect with the optimism and the sheer love of melody that runs through every aspect of the record. That's something you simply cannot manufacture in a studio. You can have great musicians, great production and technically perfect performances, but if the songs don't make you feel anything, ultimately, they don't mean very much. Grand clearly understand that.

Instead, Guilty Pleasure gives us an album that is overflowing with feeling. It is uplifting without being cheesy, emotional without becoming miserable, polished without losing its heart and commercial without sacrificing quality. Most importantly, it is enormously enjoyable.

There are albums you listen to because you review them, albums you listen to because you like them, and albums you keep coming back to simply because you can't stay away. Guilty Pleasure is definitely one of the latter.

A fantastic way to open the album, ‘Wild Heart’ immediately establishes Grand’s knack for classy, uplifting AOR. The melody is instantly appealing, the keyboards shimmer beautifully around the guitars and the chorus has exactly the kind of emotional lift that makes you want to sing along. There is a wonderful sense of optimism here, with a polished production that never gets in the way of the songwriting.

‘Guilty Pleasure’ is everything you could want from an AOR anthem. Catchy, energetic and packed with hooks, it has that wonderful combination of sophistication and accessibility that Grand do so well. The chorus is particularly infectious, while the keyboards add plenty of colour and atmosphere. It is impossible not to be swept along by its sheer positivity.

‘Have A Little Faith In Me’ is a beautifully heartfelt song with a strong emotional centre. There is a tenderness to the performance that makes the lyrics particularly effective, while the arrangement gradually builds towards a hugely satisfying chorus. This is Grand at their most sincere, proving that uplifting music can still carry plenty of emotional weight.

Things become slightly more dramatic on ‘Coldhearted’, with a stronger edge running through the arrangement. The guitars have plenty of bite, while the keyboards maintain that unmistakable AOR sheen. The chorus is another winner, delivering a memorable melodic payoff and plenty of attitude without sacrificing the album’s warmth.

‘Party Galore’, the title tells you much of what to expect! This is the album having a little fun, with an upbeat, carefree feel that makes it impossible to sit still. It is bright, infectious and full of energy, providing a welcome change of pace while still sounding unmistakably like Grand.

One of the album’s more emotional moments, ‘Still So Beautiful’ is a gorgeous piece of melodic rock built around warmth and sentiment. The melody is wonderfully memorable, while the vocal performance gives the song a genuine sense of feeling. A real heart-on-sleeve AOR number.

Upbeat and determined, ‘I’m Ready’ delivers another beautifully crafted chorus. The arrangement has plenty of momentum and the keyboards add an extra layer of sparkle. It is the sort of song that leaves you feeling positive and ready to take on the world.

‘Undo’ is a wonderfully melodic track with an almost wistful quality. There is plenty of emotional depth here, but Grand never allow the song to become overly melancholic. Instead, the soaring chorus provides a sense of hope that makes this another standout.

Beautifully atmospheric, ‘Amelie’ showcases the softer and more sophisticated side of Grand. The melodies are gorgeous, the keyboards add real warmth and the whole performance feels incredibly sincere. A lovely change of pace.

Another extremely catchy number, ‘Beggin’’ combines urgency with Grand’s trademark melodic polish. The chorus is instantly memorable, and the arrangement has enough energy to keep things moving while retaining that emotional AOR character.

‘Love Me Or Leave Me’ is a fitting finale that brings the album to an emotionally satisfying conclusion. Grand finish with another beautifully melodic song filled with feeling, memorable hooks and soaring vocals. It leaves you wanting to start the album all over again, which is exactly what a great AOR record should do.

Grand have delivered a stunning AOR album packed with unforgettable songs that demand repeat plays. For fans of melodic rock who believe that great music should make you smile, sing along and occasionally tug at the heartstrings, this is an absolute delight. As for me, I already know this is going to be one of those records that stays firmly in rotation.

Sometimes music just hits the right emotional buttons. Guilty Pleasure hits every single one.

10/10

Essential Track – ‘Still So Beautiful’

Review by Woody