antiReviews: Paw � Home Is A Strange Place  Review by Scott Vile

Paw � Home Is A Strange Place
Release Date: August 22, 2000
Label: Koch Records

 Paw have actually been around for a while. They released two CDs in the mid 90s, not receiving commercial success but earning a reputation for being an aggressive yet melodic grunge band. Listening to this CD causes very obvious comparisons to Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam. Paw broke up for a while but have now reemerged with "Home Is A Strange Place," their new 7-song EP.

 The first track "Ruby Red" has a cool, mellow vibe but unfortunately it's merely a 1 ½ minute intro song. It would be good as a full track. "One Handed In The Red Room" combines grunge and thrash metal in a superb fashion, and definitely has a chance at commercial success. The next song "Blow Wind" sounds like a Dirty Looks song. I don't know why I'm using such an obscure metal band for a reference, but the singing is just so similar to their style. It too has aggressive verses but this time has an off tempo chorus. Singer Mark Hennessy does his best Eddie Vedder impression during the chorus, this song too is a cool track. "Into the Woods" is an instrumental with an unexpected yet welcome sitar-sounding guitar. "Naiad" brings them back to their grunge style of rock, it's a bit mellow and really catchy. The title track "Home Is A Strange Place" didn't grip me, and the EP finishes off with "Oily Rags" which sounds distorted and a bit surreal. A good closer for the �Strange Place' they created on this CD.

 Paw was overlooked when the style of music they made exploded in the mid-90s, and now they are back for another go. This CD is very good, but not highly original. Paw are Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains clones, but at the time, who wasn't? Paw are a lot more convincing than most, this CD proves that they are a cut above. 

The Band:
Mark Hennessy � Vocals
Grant Fitch � Guitars, Vocals
Peter Fitch � Drums, Percussion
Dan Hines � Bass

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