MAGNET

April/May 2003

Like (Jesse) Malin, The Coming Grass adds marquee value to its album by enlisting ex-Wilco drummer Ken Coomer for "Transient" (Velvet Ed). The Portland, Maine group is distinguished by the vocals of Sara Cox and the slide-guitar solos of chief songwriter Nate Schrock. "Transient" veers between good choices (sinuous rocker "Guard Down" and the Steve Earle flavored "Fix Your Own Cup of Tea") and not-so-impressive ones ("Product Pushing", which leans too far toward the wasteland of jamgrass). But,of course, with that old Wilco elan on board, you can afford a stumble or two.