Pants Yell! - Recent Drama

Pants Yell!
Recent Drama
[Asaurus / Paper Cities]

Pants Yell! writes the songs that I wish I had written.

I was trying to think of other ways to praise their new CD “Recent Drama” but this is probably the one that I feel the most. So, coming from a songwriter’s perspective that’s probably the best I can give: Godamnit, I wish I had written these songs.

I’ve been following the band ever since receiving a copy of their 2003 cassette tape release “Our Horse Calls”. When I got this CD, I stupidly didn’t put it on immediately but left it in the “good pile” because I knew I’d like it. Geez, a bonehead move. That’s one month’s time I could have been immersing myself in Pants Yell! greatness. Instead, I waited until now to put it in on, so I need to make quicker judgements in this review based on only a few listens.

Not that it’s that difficult. Their stuff has always been honest and open indiepop all the way through. Nothing too grandiose. But it also has those occasionally quirky chord jumps and slightly shambling but amazingly organic feel to the drums that sets them apart from other indiepop bands. And because this is a trio, there’s also much more room for the bass to make a melodic presence. The whole shebang is often nicely loungey; you come home, put the CD on, settle back with a drink and make the most of the rest of the day.

On just a cursory listen however, it’s evident that this album has quite a bit more arrangement and fullness than some of their earlier work. The songs are still standout indiepop, but things are definitely moving around faster. The opening track, “Kids Are The Same”, is probably one of the best examples of that. This is superfast for them, and definitely different from their more laidback stuff. This song is pretty lushly recorded as well.

I’ve always had a hard time doing a “sounds like” description. Here goes: It’s sort of like Belle and Sebastian, Beat Happening, Masters of the Hemisphere, The Pastels, Tullycraft and Galaxie 500 rolled into one. How’s that for namer-dropping?

“Easy Way To Be Cruel” leaves you with a peaceful easy indiepop feeling; deliciously understated lyrics go hand in hand with the groovy music. Yes, groovy! Both “Our Weather” and “It’s Been Done” motor along in classic Pants Yell! fashion. “We’ve Got History” has a strange but delicious guitar line that goes atonal suddenly.

One thing about their CDs that I found interesting is that they usually have at least one semi-instrumental song on their albums that sounds quite a bit more different than their other songs. It is often drony and lush and dreamy, a la Yo La Tengo or American Analog Set. In this case it’s “Our Turf” which is smack in the middle of the album… it’s almost like they’re saying “Ok, now change plates” like the waiters do at some of the fancier Chinese restaurants.

“Don’t Take It” swings easily like a late-era Beulah song, but “New #4″ surprised me a bit with it’s snare drum urgency. It also has this great outro chorus of “I’m never going to leave my street”. The CD exits with the sweet acoustic guitar number “Southend-on-Sea” but an old ragtime piano throwaway is tacked on the end for good measure.

Once again, I’ve got to say that Pants Yell! is definitely one of the most promising bands to be nurtured along by the homebrew Asaurus Records label. I’ve promoted them to whoever would listen since the beginning, and I’ll continue to do so because they make the kind of songs that I wish I had made.

Members:

Sterling Bryant - bass, backing vocals, keyboards
Andrew Churchman - guitar, vocals
Carly Smith - drums, backing vocals

Tracks:

Kids Are The Same

Artist Website:

www.asaurus.org/pantsyell/

Support Indie Music:
Get it on: Amazon | Insound

by Bryan