NewMusic First Spin: Still Life Still
August 18th, 2009
Arts & Crafts’ latest signings may seem new to a lot of people but they’ve actually been together for a decade, just like the label’s flagship act Broken Social Scene. Just one difference though (and I do mean just the one): Still Life Still began when the members were 13. So, not a grey hair or weathered tour vet in the bunch.
No, this is a bunch of fresh-faced 23-year olds who spent most of their existence developing their sound in East York (aka the east end of Toronto) basements. That is before they were finally discovered by BSS figurehead Kevin Drew, who took them under his wing and decided to not only sign them to A&C, which he co-founded, but also help them record their debut album, Girls Come Too.
You could say Drew and his indie rock collective had a profound influence on Still Life Still in many ways. While they have about one-third of the membership, this five-piece certainly modelled their sound after the BSS archetype: layered, curving guitars, hushed vocals and bursts of “jam it out loud” noise.
Working up a sweat on his kit, drummer Aaron Romaniuk takes a page out of Justin Peroff’s book on Lite-Bright Lawns and Danse Cave, while Brendon Saarinen and Eric Young go through fluid motions with their guitars. Kid and Wild Bees, on the other hand, use the soft textures and guitar-bending style of Modest Mouse to sell their music acoustically.
It’s safe to say, Girls Come Too fits right into the Arts & Craft canon. Whereas most of the label’s roster contains one element of Broken Social Scene’s genetic makeup, it’s hard to argue that Still Life Still weren’t trying to up the ante. There’s obviously some hero worship in their music, but it’s safe to say a lot of Scenesters should dig what they hear.
Author: Cam Lindsay
Track Listing
- Danse Cave
- Flowers And A Wreath
- Kid
- Lite-Bright Lawns
- Neon Blue
- Pastel
- Planets
- Knives In Cartoons
- T-Shirts
- Scissors Losing Weight
- Wild Bees
Tags: first spin, still life still
Posted on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 at 1:51 pm by Alberto and is filed under Reviews, The New Music.
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5 Responses to “NewMusic First Spin: Still Life Still”
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Does not every band have a comparison to another band? Really, just becuase they are on the same label, an easy way to review is to compare them to another band on the same label…..
I believe that you should take another listen and you will hear what the rest of us hear-amazing music, that has meaning (just not to you, I guess…)
But everyone is welcome to their opinion, and I am sure that they will prove you wrong. -
Weak…comparison to another band on the label?
Take another listen, and you will hear what the rest of us hear-amazing music, with meaning!
Cam you are welcome to your own opinion, but I would suggest you read back to your previous review where you said that it was one of your most favorite alblums of the year…think you are going to be proven wrong yet again….
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theis guys are one of the best up and comers i heard them at edgefest and they rock
I went to check the out…I read the review and was surprised.
Hey Cam, does this sound familiar?
“Call me patriotic, but I thought it would be fitting to feature a Canadian band in today’s column. Not because they’re from my end of Toronto, East York that is, but because Still Life Still are one of those new, untouched bands that have the poise and sonic ingenuity to put the east end on the map of the city’s flourishing musicality (it’s not all just about Queen West, y’know, and before you wonder, I don’t know a soul in this band).
I can see Still Life Still garnering some Broken Social Scene comparisons, and although I hear some similarities — heavy layering, incidental background noise, a jammy looseness to the song structures, melodies buried six feet under, occasional and lackadaisical experimentation — they certainly shouldn’t have to worry about breaking up over an identity crisis. ”
This is one of my favorite records this year. n