Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin 'Pershing' album

Pershing, the sophomore release from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, due out on Polyvinyl Records April 8, 2008. Pershing is the next logical step in SSLYBY’s young career. It exudes all of the attributes that made its critically acclaimed debut Broom so endearing. However, while Broom posed SSLYBY as promising young act on the rise about to find its way, Pershing seems to act as its mission statement.

With Pershing, SSLYBY works out its adventure streak by way of quirky chord changes amid massive hooks and addictive melodies. The new model is not only an improvement on the original, but seemingly posits itself as the shape of things to come. The future definitely looks bright for our boys in SSLYBY. Tracks “Glue Girls”, “Modern Mystery”, “Oceanographer”, “Some Constellation”, “I Think I Wanna Die”, “HEER’s” are some of the favorites round the 230 offices.

SSLYBY is a quartet from Springfield, MO. The earnest pop band self-released its debut, Broom in March 2005. Upon its release, they sent out a few MP3s to websites and blogs, and started a tape club as a quick and easy way to distribute new material. Initially, the music resonated with a small group of critics and fans, and soon thereafter the band hit the road. However, the word of mouth began to catch on, and lead to Polyvinyl Records signing the band in 2006, and re-released Broom to even wider distribution in October of that year. They continued to tour and won over even more fans.

SSLYBY has shared the stage with the likes Catfish Haven, Mute Math, Sound Team, of Montreal, and Chin Up Chin Up. They toured libraries with cult band Harry and the Potters. They headlined a European tour and even made their way to their namesake’s homeland of Russia! They’ve been covered by a variety of media outlets such as Pitchfork, Spin, Magnet, Harp, Interview, Elle and more.

biography
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, a band, couldn’t list a single music blog until their lo-fi MP3s and low-res JPEGs made them worldwide icons of Blogdom in 2005. Their debut record, Broom is an expertly crafted indie pop gem. Spin magazine read an SSLYBY blog, downloaded their music and declared the Missouri band “could succeed The Shins.” Then a slew of bloggers ranked them ahead of Wilco and Iron & Wine in Leafblower’s annual “Top Bands of America Today”.

“Internet fame doesn’t make sense to us,” says drummer and main songwriter Philip Dickey. “I don’t think our lead singer has an e-mail address.”

All members were babies in the early 80s. A mutual ex-girlfriend from high school introduced the original members of the band. And that’s also where the name comes from—high school. “I thought of it when I was at the mall with my mom,” Dickey says. “We’re not good at naming things or planning ahead. We only tried to make people like us a couple years ago.”

SSLYBY’s hometown used to be a beacon of pop music in the 50’s. That’s when The Ozark Jubilee was broadcasting live country music from the downtown Springfield, entertaining millions of viewers every Saturday night on primetime NBC. “We think about that show a lot,” Dickey says. “Our little town was the third highest origination point for national television…third only to New York and Hollywood. We want to bring the spotlight back here. Moving to Brooklyn or LA would be copping out. We’re not that sad about living in Missouri.”

The band released their debut album, Broom, originally in March 2005. Broom was recorded in an attic and a living room on Weller Street, Knauer’s home. The band’s ambition was simple- to make the “Local Releases” bin at CD Warehouse. However, it turned into a classic rock ‘n’ roll record: the kind where pop perfectionism meets studio experimentations and each track flows effortlessly. Relatively tame pop songs are molded by happy accidents of fate, sometimes involving unexplained swarming sounds and doubled drums tracks.

The band posted Broom MP3s on their website, and that’s how the blogging boom began. Then the San Francisco Weekly wrote a love letter to the band—literally.

“Dear Unknown Band from Middle of Nowhere Missouri, How do I love thee? …your debut is one of those rare albums where every song is crafted, delicious, and essential. This is disgusting, really, given the fact that the oldest member of your band is only 22. Yours truly, Chris Baty”

And the infatuation hasn’t ended. It’s impossible to find a reviewer or blogger that isn’t lovesick over Broom, even with omniscient help of Google.

The band is in the process of following up Broom at incessant pace. Each month SSLYBY releases 30 minutes of analog recordings to subscribers of their prolific “Tape Club”. And they proved they were a real band when they toured with Secretly Canadian’s Catfish Haven in February. The Columbia Tribune called it one of the best shows of the year….“Springfield up-and-comer doesn’t yet realize the gifts it possesses - a scary thought.”

Also scary: the reviews barely scratch the surface of SSLYBY’s virtues. Listen to what Pitchfork labeled the “Basement MP3’s”. Scour the internet. Feel the love poured into each song. And watch Google completely debase the way we discover our new favorite bands.

press quotes
An appealing blend of guitar jangles, saccharine vocals and lyrics packed with lady filled allusions, this song is an indie pop rock dream - a pop archetype that sounds both effortless and well crafted. –FILTER

it's refreshing to have a band survive a hypestorm and come out sounding fresh, well studied, and amongst the finest in the present crop of young indie-pop songwriters. –STEREOGUM

Could someday succeed the Shins as the next indie pop band that emo earnest kids insist will change your life. –SPIN

If SSLYBY doesn’t have you when the jangly guitars fall out…well, then, maybe you don’t know what love is. –MAGNET

One of those rare albums where every song is crafted, delicious, and essential. –SF WEEKLY

Broom might just be the best album I have heard in 2005 from anyone. -RIVERFRONT TIMES

SSLYBY already has proved that it can almost offhandedly craft a pop hook better than songwriters who have spent their lifetimes attempting to do so. –COLUMBIA TRIBUNE

An excellent album. -GORILLA VS. BEAR

who is who
John Robert Cardwell - Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Philip Dickey - Drums, Guitar, Vocals
Jonathan James - Bass, Drums
Will Knauer - Guitar

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Tags

Details

Tracklisting

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Pershing