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June 23, 2005
if language is a city, take a bus to the suburbs
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - I Am Warm and Powerful
First off, let me just say: that is a daring title for a song. What would prompt that kind of statement? Maybe if your girl was thinking about breaking up with you, or maybe getting back together with you, and asked you to give her a reason to stay/return, like so:
GIRL: Why should I be with you? What can you offer than no other guy can?
SSLYBY: I am warm and powerful.
GIRL: Well, I'm sold.
Not many declarative sentences have the same sort of vaguely authoritarian and comforting tone that 'I am warm and powerful' has (although I could see it going all wrong, if you said the phrase with a sort of devilish 'my name is legion, for we are many' grin on your face). It's like comparing yourself to a huge, anthropomorphic husband pillow.
Oh right this is a music blog. Ahem. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin are a fantastic guitar pop band, and have released one of the better straight-ahead indie rock albums I've heard this year, "Broom". I am not lying when I say that "Broom" is on par with (and has sonic similarities to) Beulah's "Handsome Western States" and "When Your Heartstrings Break", as well as the Shins' "Oh Inverted World". The lead singer (who is either John Robert, Jonathan, Philip, or Tom- I can't tell) definitely sounds a bit like James Mercer and a bit like Miles Kurosky at times, without really being any kind of vocal clone of either those two (just in that same timbral ballpark).
'I am Warm and Powerful' is a tricky song; it starts off all soft and sweet, with some pom-pom percussion and a little descending guitar figure, dressed up like a lullaby. But it is not a lullaby. Oh-ho, chuckle, no. At 1:15 there is a defining moment. SSLYBY ratchet this baby up into a plateau of poppy bliss, via well-placed handlcaps and some propulsive bass. Also, the background vocals on 'I am Warm and Powerful' act as a sort of audio chiaroscuro, giving the track a nice, hazey depth.
Every song on "Broom" is great. Beginning to end, there are no missteps, nothing that could qualify as filler. Just lean, well-crafted songs. You can (and should) buy "Broom" from the band's label, Generic Equivalent Records (my copy arrived in 3 days, they were quick!). If you're still apprehensive, the band and the label both have clips from every song on the album up on their respective websites.
Thanks to Ryan Catbirdseat for the heads-up on SSLYBY. They aren't just a band with a crazy name, they're a band with great pop sensibilities and compassion for a deposed, alcoholic Russian leader.
p.s. Don't forget about the Insound sale! 25% off for new customers. You can finally buy that Olivia Tremor Control album that you've had a searing crush on all these years.
Posted by Kevin at June 23, 2005 09:24 AM
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