My darling, you’re amazing
Pretty tough to really put into words how excited I am about this one, you guys. Laura Stevenson and the Cans are releasing a new album!
I’ve done you a disservice by not talking more about Stevenson’s debut EP. It sort of fell into the cracks after it was released in 2008, in the sense that I hadn’t heard it until early 2009 after I’d already put together my annual best-of junk. I kind of worry all of her and the Can’s future work will be overshadowed by that eight song collection, in fact.
Released under Stevenson’s name by Quote Unquote records, the donation-based download-only label run by her Bomb The Music Industry! bandmate Jeff Rosenstock, A Record is a shiver-inducingly beautiful collection of songs loosely wrapped around an incredibly unique and uniquely-powerful voice. The first sound you hear is Stevenson’s multi-tracked cooing on opener, “Baby Bones.” It’s a structure that flows through about half the songs here: her guitar and banjo are relegated to quiet accompaniment while her angelic vocals soar through every possible note in whatever key she’s singing in. Then there is “Landslide Song/The Dig,” a track with punk rock guitars and drums melding with a bright horn section. “Source and the Sound” could be a Mazzy Star track, synthesizer notes pushed to the front of the mix while distorted vocals are pushed lower. Drums and distorted guitar power chords cut in halfway through, adding to the syrupy feel of the song. With a group of contributing musicians, several of whom would go on to form her backing band The Cans, the short (23 minutes!) album cuts a wide swath through numerous sounds, textures, and genres. It feels like a full listen.
For me, the highlight comes with “A Shine To It.” Another song comprised entirely of finger-picked guitars and a mournful vocal performance, it’s a captivating contradiction. While the tenor of the song is decidedly maudlin, Stevenson’s lyrics are a testament to the power of love, or more accurately the power love can have over us. She talks about resorting to selling her own blood to buy baubles and trinkets she thinks might please her lover, who remains distant regardless. It’s a haunting, even heartbreaking song that shows the full power and majesty of her singing, let alone her guitar playing.
The same goes for her cover of BTMI!’s “It Ceases To Be ‘Whining’ If You’re Still ‘Shitting Blood’” — possibly one of the finest covers I’ve ever heard.
Which brings us to this week and the debut of the first track from Stevenson and The Can’s forthcoming album, Sit Resist, out April 26th. “Master of Art” follows the progression the band set out on with its Holy Ghost 7″, a more expansive, full-band sound that trends closer to rock than the intimate acoustics of A Record. It opens with a wink to Phil Spector’s 60’s girl groups with its kick drums and tambourines, bringing in some gentle shaker, electric guitar, and bass leading into a chorus that flexes just a bit more muscle. Stevenson’s voice hasn’t lost an ounce of its power, exploding into some impressive runs in the choruses and the lyrics pick up where the intimacy of her previous songs left off, though it isn’t without it’s own sense of melancholy.
I’ve been saying since I found out last year that this record would be coming out that it will be the best album of 2011. “Master of Art” only makes me believe that even more. Rcrd Lbl has the exclusive, get it from there below.
Stay tuned to the group’s web store for pre-order information or to get other tunes. Don Giovanni Records will be releasing it.
