Although co-founded by
John Grant and Chris Pearson,
the Czars were always
Grant’s band, with most of the group’s acclaim stemming from his deep, resonant vocals and songwriting. The frontman reportedly butted heads with his four bandmates, but such creative tension helped mold
the Czars into an eclectic group, and
Grant’s voice -- despite being the cornerstone of every
Czars album -- wouldn’t have shined as brightly without the dreamy, shoegazing music that flanked it.
Queen of Denmark, his first release without
the Czars, finds him working alongside
Midlake instead, resulting in another collaborative album that takes its cues from '70s soft rock and quirky Americana. ~ Andrew Leahey