An interesting collection, Grains of Sand is not a Mission album proper, but rather a chance for the listener to hear the other songs that were recorded for Carved in Sand. The single "Hands Across the Ocean" is a nugget of pop brilliance that hints at what came next for Wayne Hussey. Most of the tracks are solid, but covers of "Love," and "Mr. Pleasant" are better off as B-sides. The strength of songs like "Hands...," "Divided We Fall," and "Mercenary" are good arguments that the sessions for Carved in Sand produced what could have been one hell of a double album.