Label: Vice Recordings

Release Date: June 17, 2003

Website: www.thestills.net

The Stills - Rememberese
Joel Atkinson

I'm just not too sure about this band. Let's see...they're from Montreal, a 4 piece band. They released this 4 song EP (3 songs plus a 12" extended remix) earlier this year in anticipation of an October 2003 full length, Logic Will Break Your Heart.

Oh, and another thing. They recently went on tour with Interpol, and have a very derivative early '80s post-punk sound. Coincidence? It just makes me wonder...are they ripping off Joy Division, The Chameleons, and Echo and the Bunnymen, or are they ripping off Interpol? Interpol's sound may be heavily borrowed from the aforementioned bands, but Turn On the Bright Lights works because the songs are good. The Stills have all the atmosphere and mood of Interpol, but their hooks are not on the same level.

I hate to be too hard on them, though. "Still in Love Song" shows glimpses of future promise, with a decent chorus (I like that bass!) "Talk To Me" is definitely my favorite, a radical departure from the reverb-soaked gloom and doom of the first two tracks. It sounds like it was recorded on a 4-track and features mainly an acoustic guitar and keyboard; it's a fine pop song.

I'm curious to hear the Stills' upcoming LP, to see if it displays growth and maturity, or if it's cut from the same cloth as this uneven EP. Give them a chance. They're young.

posted 11.08.03

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Joel Atkinson is as smart as he'd like you not to think. E-mail him at theicecreamsocial@yahoo.com

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