Library Voices - Denim On Denim
Monday, February 8, 2010 at 3:58AM 
Canada's Library Voices say that you could call their music "Post-Twee-Power-Folk-Nu-Beach-LoFi-Modern-Indie" but want to keep it simple: they just prefer "pop." The Regina, Saskatchewan octet formed in 2008 and have released an EP but well-tuned critical ears have already made note, including SPIN and those smarty-pants at The New Yorker. We like the witty, rather retro-meets-modern substructure that supports the Voices' nimble, gangly jangle and it's a blast to play "pin the tail on the influences" as our collective heads swim with a muddled melange of names from 60's radio fodder, 70's So-Cal harmonied pop, skittish 80's New Wave and homespun 90's indie rock. But that's really just the beginning of the fun.
Kicked off with lead single "Drinking Games", debut full length Denim On Denim (April 13, Young Soul) makes the most of the band's eclectic array of instruments and voices (we are talking eight performers here) as staccato guitar riffs, handclaps, swelling organ chords and a big boisterous beat set up an irresistible vocal harmony hook. The result is The Cowsill-ian, Bay City Roller-ish anthem as might be performed by a 70's version of Arcade Fire -- and, we might add, with a clever lyrical edge. We're also besotted by the tenaciously driven "Haunt This House", a rave-up of rhythmic thrust and a kitchen-sink's worth of wall-of-sound instrumental mayhem that would make David Byrne smile. Fun -- didn't we already say that? -- but almost never frivolous, these boisterous Library Voices shall not be shushed. Recommended.
Library Voices - "Haunt This House" (from the album Denim On Denim)
Library Voices - "Write Me A Myth" (from the album Denim On Denim)
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Reader Comments (5)
Your link for "haunt this house" is actually a link to the band's cover of the magnetic fields' "the book of love"
Thanks -- we've fixed the link...
DC
great. more happy clappy contrived sentimental hipster bullshit. great. just great. fuck, music sucks these days.
Sounds like someone needs a hug.
Eoin gives lots of hugs.