When I first caught wind of news that Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin was releasing its sophomore album, I was hoping I would still love the band.
After hearing a disappointing sophomore release last week from a certain band who shall remain nameless (Hint: Dropping the "!" from your name does not mean I will take you seriously), I was praying the modest indie-poppers from Springfield, Mo., wouldn't follow the same path with their new release, Pershing.
Luckily, the guys from Someone Still Loves You are more sophisticated than that. They aren't trying to pull off some grandiose musical example of how to blow your load, metaphorically speaking. These guys knew they had a good thing going on with their first release, Broom, which featured earnest songwriting with pop melodies that would make you say to yourself, "Vampire who?"
The first thing that stands out is the improvement of the audio mix. While Broom sounded like they were playing in an ocean of reverb, Pershing proves to be much more polished. On one hand, a little bit of the lo-fi charm has certainly disappeared this time around, but now these guys are starting to define themselves as a group with its own style.
"Oceanographers," probably the biggest departure for the band, is an example of this process in action. This song is so dynamic that at one point it captures the spirit of a '60s pop classic and then effortlessly eases into a bridge section that mixes the feel of pre-"Green Album" Weezer with a hint of a Rolling Stones-esque panache.
Another surprise is the garage rock/'60s pop tune "Boring Fountain," which contrarily is anything but boring with its rocking arrangements. The band isn't afraid to experiment with horns on this track but knows well enough not to overdo it. The guitars this time around have finally gotten their own shape and definition, sounding as delicious as a freshly prepared cranberry kissel (a traditional Russian dessert, for those of you who don't know).
In addition to refining its style, Someone Still Loves You seems to have grown up a bit, judging by the lyrical content of this release. This time around there isn't a whole lot of cute indie pop choruses like on the band's debut album's opening track, "Pangaea."
Instead, the lyrics sound a bit more grown up but still retain their modest feel. "There is no modern mystery/No mystic chords of memory," Philip Dickey sings on "Modern Mystery." There certainly are no mystic chords on this release, but at times you start to wonder if the band is distancing itself too much from its youth.
Overall, this is a step up for Someone Still Loves You. Some might miss the lo-fi coating that washed about through Broom and some might think there's not as much pop on this album. All are understandable criticisms, but it's obvious the band is on the road to make a name for itself rather than just blend in with the scene. Regardless, I'm sure someone will still love them.
Grade: B+
