After having listened to Grand Archives’ new album, Keep in Mind Frankenstein, for two straight weeks leading up to this show, yesterday I finally had to admit to myself that I just don’t like this album as much as the self-titled debut. I loved the first album so much that I had to make absolutely sure that this record wasn’t one I needed to listen to a few times before I understood it. Most of the songs are just not that exciting. I agree with Paige that a sense of tension is all but missing from most of the songs on the new record, but I wanted to see the band before passing my final judgment (I’ve posted a couple more photos after the jump for your amusement). So much the better that the band’s set last night turned out to be a straightforward rendering of the band’s new album, Keep in Mind Frankenstein, which they played in its entirety and in order (they did, however, close out with a really lovely cover of ELO’s “Telephone Line.”) I still think the band could (and will) make a better album, but after hearing Keep in Mind Frankenstein live, I have more favorable feelings about it, and on the whole I think the new songs sounded much more full. The peaks and valleys still weren’t there, but the set reminded me that Grand Archives is still a good band — even if this record doesn’t show the band at its best.