Stills' logic won't break your heart
By Jeff Renfro
The Stills full-length debut "Logic Will Break Your Heart" is an outstanding concept album that harkens back to the tragically-inconsolable days of early New Order. The album's super-ordinate themes deal with the relationship between impulse and logic. The melancholy lyrics are offset by the bouncy grooves laid down by the bands incomparable bassist, Oliver Crowe.
The Stills (Tim Fletcher-vocals/guitar, Dave Hamelin-drums/vocals, Greg Paquet-guitar, and Crowe-bass) have played together in various bands in their native Montreal, but have only recently achieved critical recognition. "Logic Will Break Your Heart" comes a few months after the release of their four-track EP "Rememberese."
Comparisons have been drawn between The Stills and Interpol. The bands share a penchant for dark lyrics, but where Interpol is Joy Division, The Stills are New Order. The Stills allow the bass to set the rhythm, which, on many tracks, is almost danceable. The album features possibly the finest bass lines to appear on a rock record in the last decade. The jangley guitars are sparingly used to support the rhythm of the bass.
It is hard to believe that this album is a debut; every track is strong. The standout among standouts though is without a doubt the closing song "Yesterday Never Tomorrows." The song begins with quiet speaker feedback, before a quick rhythm is knocked out on a bell, which leads into the drums, which leads into a light synthesizer rhythm, supported by the bass. The synthesizer rhythm fades out as the vocals begin and returns before the start of the chorus.
The lyrical content of the song may be its strongest aspect. "Yesterday-" features the lines, "More sex, more goodbyes/ I love you and I/ I won't let myself let you go," and the chorus, "Somethings last forever/ Why can't this last forever?/ And nothing lasts forever/ I hope this lasts forever."
Other standout tracks include the album's first single "Still in Love Song" and "Allison Krausse" (which features the great line, "She lied and said she was a virgin/ I asked her which, which version").
The album's lyrics attempt to illustrate the meaninglessness, and necessity, of relationships, but in a refreshingly sincere fashion. What separates The Stills from other bands-of-the-moment is the ability to convey actual feelings and doubts in a straightforward, never ironic way. The band is fixated on heartache and failed relationships, but stops short of moping. The lyrics never invite the listener to feel sorry for the band; instead they call into question the validity of emotions that lead people to partake in activities that more often than not, end in emotional pain.
The Stills are currently on tour with Echo and the Bunnymen and "Logic Will Break Your Heart" is in stores now.
Grade: A-