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Grun Wasser: Not Ok With Things - VINYL LPTitle: Not Ok With Things Artist: Grun Wasser Label: Holodeck Records Product Type: VINYL LP UPC: 843563118214 Genre: Rock Release Date: 2019 11 22 Number of Discs: 1 Arising at the forefront of contemporary underground pop, Chicago based duo GRN WASSER shapes the course of minimal electronic music and blurs the boundaries of art, songwriting and performance on their latest full length Not Ok with Things out October 4, 2019. Vocalist Keely Dowd and
Title: Not Ok With ThingsArtist: Grun Wasser
Label: Holodeck Records
Product Type: VINYL LP
UPC: 843563118214
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 2019-11-22
Number of Discs: 1
Arising at the forefront of contemporary underground pop, Chicago-based duo GRÜN WASSER shapes the course of minimal electronic music and blurs the boundaries of art, songwriting and performance on their latest full-length Not Ok with Things out October 4, 2019. Vocalist Keely Dowd and producer Essej Pollock artfully bend and reconfigure popular trends in dance music into unconventionally catchy songs and a powerful live show. Their unique mix of hardware, software and sampling coalesce into irresistible rhythms and driving sequences that fuse perfectly with Dowd's distinctive alto voice, forming music that is as instantly appealing as it is fascinating. With lyrics inspired by personal struggles and social inequality, GRÜN WASSER raises the bar on innovation in modern pop as they arrive on the national stage with Not Ok with Things.As longtime friends, Dowd and Pollock formed GRÜN WASSER in 2015 out of the rich cultural hub of Chicago. Both had backgrounds in punk and electronic music and together crafted a dynamic live act that fit within a variety of niche genres and scenes. Amidst the hype of GRÜN WASSER's first album Nein/9 in 2016, Dowd's alluring stage persona blossomed, while offstage her personal life began to unravel due to alcoholism and resulting depression. Nevertheless, the two began touring the country while writing new material and by late 2017, Dowd was able to get sober just ahead of their self-released follow-up album. On 2018's Predator/Prey, Dowd candidly spoke out against hyper-masculinity and challenged misogynistic cultural norms. The lyrics of her songs became woven into the live performance, with Dowd often venturing into the crowd and confronting audience members with an intensely honest portrayal of feminine empowerment. Perfectly paired, Pollock's thumping, experimental beats complement Dowd's hypnotic vocals and gripping stage presence, making GRÜN WASSER a potent combination of pop and art.On Not Ok with Things, Dowd deconstructs her alcoholism and protests the gross imbalance of gender roles. This complex mixture of emotions provides a palpable overcast to Pollock's cold bass lines and brooding synth tones. The lyrics on songs like "Translator" and "Tried Spitting at The Sun" depict a turbulent mind bracing the ups and downs of relapse and recovery, while "Worm" and "Gray/Grey" grapple with the social casualties of addiction. The heavy subject matter is delivered within organic arrangements that often deviate from a typical verse-chorus format, representing the revolving tides of raw emotional expression. GRÜN WASSER's use of textural samples gives an environmental context, enhancing the composition and revealing influences from hip-hop, house and industrial music. Pollock's abstract percussion techniques incorporate real-world sounds with high-hat rolls and thick sub bass, adding a gritty undertone to their polished sound design. Swells of backing vocals add highlights of nuanced melody that swirl in and around Pollock's dense synthwork and precise drum programming. Not Ok with Things is a bold exposition and an inspiring symbol of female resilience in the modern world, giving GRÜN WASSER's work dimensions beyond the audible.GRÜN WASSER fully realizes their singular talent on Not Ok with Things, crafting meaningful pop music with unmistakable passion and evocative style.
Tracks:
1.1 Translator
1.2 Driving
1.3 Worm
1.4 Gray/Grey
1.5 Stranger's Mouth
1.6 Tried Spitting at the Sun
1.7 Water Death II
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4.4 ★★★★★
Based on 14 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
A great book for all
Format: Paperback, Format: Paperback
What a great book. I bought it for my 12 year old granddaughter. A story of resilience.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2026
★★★★★ 5
My favorite middle grade book of 2018 so far
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
I'll never look at a motel with the same eyes again. Author Kelly Yang brings us Mia Tang, a younger version of herself, who helped her parents manage a motel in southern California in the early 1990s.
Mia and her parents arrive from China with two hundred dollars, unwavering optimism, and the belief that if they work hard enough, they will achieve the American dream: a big house, a dog, and an endless supply of juicy hamburgers. After two years of backbreaking jobs and sketchy living conditions, Mia's parents rush to sign a contract to manage the Calista Motel located five miles from Disneyland.
Mr. Yao, the notoriously cheap and unscrupulous motel owner, informs the Tangs that the contract allows him to make any changes and if they don't like the terms, "Just say the word. There are ten thousand immigrants who would take your job in two seconds" (p. 27).
Mia quickly makes friends with the "weeklies" and assigns herself front desk duty because her parents must clean every room themselves and be available 24/7 to check in guests.
Mia's moxie and sense of justice emerge as she takes on adult responsibilities with a sense of pride and unbridled enthusiasm.
She makes plenty of mistakes which makes us empathize with her struggles and root for her as she tackles the english language, bullies, crime, and embarrassment about her thrift store clothes. (Keep your eyes open for the tale of the designer jeans.)
Chapters are vignettes that are strung along with seamless transitions to make reading a pure pleasure. The author captures Mia's voice so authentically that the reader is instantly drawn into the story. Mia's uses the power of the written word to advocate for herself and others.
Kids will fall in love with Mia and cheer her fierce determination as she navigates her way through poverty and injustice, bringing her family, the weeklies, and everyone else who want to be part of the American dream with her.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2018
★★★★★ 5
Outstanding!
Format: Hardcover
Hiya Bumbles! I am so excited to share this upper elementary/middle grade book with all of you! This is the story of Mia Tang, a Chinese immigrant, and her family’s quest for a better, “freer” life in America. The Tang family is given the opportunity to manage a motel and a journey of heart breaking and heart filling experiences begin. Ms. Yang artfully brings sass and humor to very serious topics regarding social issues that continue to pervade our communities. This is quite a relevant read right now and I can see how fabulous discussions and lessons will arise from this novel. The main character, Mia, is spunky, bright and spreads love everywhere she goes. She also stands up for herself and others when it counts. I loved getting to know her. It was eye opening to read some of the circumstances that the immigrants in the story have to live through. And although there are heavy social injustices that are prevalent in her life, Mia handles them with grace and just the right amount of sass and compassion. I absolutely would recommend this story and I think it teaches so many valuable lessons to readers! I also think that it can transcend age up through YA and it’s a great read for adults too. It’s actually based on some of the author’s own experiences.
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 from me! Loved it!
#frontdesk #kellyyang #scholastic #kidlit #bookstagram #immigrant #chinese #miatang #spunkandsass #booknerd #kellyyangisawesome
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Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2018
★★★★★ 4
Great book for young minds to learn about prejudice, immigration, and keeping your identity.
Format: Hardcover
Brand spanking new hardcover. Quality was great. That's the product from Amazon. The story itself has become priceless. I bought it to participate in the Great Global Read Aloud project with my class. However, being fourth generation American born Chinese AND teaching to students of various ethnic backgrounds and citizenship, this story really spoke to me. My 6 year old son has asked me to read it aloud to him as I was vetting the book and has really enjoyed it. Keep in mind there are some mentions of "idiot" and "hell", both in context, but I probably won't read it aloud exactly like that in the classroom to avoid any issues. It's a very eye opening story and lends itself to a lot of conversation about where you come from, who you want to be, and how to be the true you, without giving way to stereotypes and prejudices. These days, more people could use a more humbling story like this to truly just make LIFE GREAT AGAIN, no matter where you live.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019
★★★★★ 5
One of the best middle grade books of 2018!
Format: Hardcover
FRONT DESK is loosely based on author Kelly Yang’s life experience, as explained in an author’s note at the end of the book.
Her straightforward writing makes this book perfect for younger middle grade readers (Mia is 10). Yet Yang tackles difficult issues like interpersonal, systemic, and institutional racism. She writes so simply and honestly, it’s hard to imagine a young person walking away without understanding these powerful messages.
FRONT DESK is infused with dark truths about America and still manages to be light, heartwarming, and fast-paced. Lovable Mia solves problems by using her writing skills—not her math skills as her mother wishes she would. She beats the system by using her words, often disguised as the words of adults, to point out injustices and find pathways to a better life for her family and friends.
Mia’s and her parents’ find—actually, create—community at the Calavista Motel. They fight back when multiple systems conspire to make life impossible for Hank, an African American man who lives at the hotel. They devise a system to hide desperate Chinese immigrants in vacant rooms. This is deep social justice work, accompanied by anecdotes of Mia’s follies at the front desk and problems at school.
The book ends on a hopeful note, with the Tangs’ community surrounding them to help them take the first step off the poverty rollercoaster. The solution they come up with has a chance at helping others get off, too.
FRONT DESK shifts the narrative about the American experience, acknowledging that there are many American experiences. The pathway to the American Dream can take many forms, and Yang has described one that is heart wrenching, hopeful, and a lot of fun along the way.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2018