Purevolume gave me an impressive dose of good music today in the form of The Stills, an indie rock Canadian gem. Members Greg Paquet, Oliver Crowe, Tim Fletcher, Liam O'Neil and Dave Hamelin blew me away with their incredibly unified sound and the way they take full advantage of every instrument's capabilities in each song. Their music is full of life and feeling and has the ability to perk up any ear.
"In the Beginning" is a spirited, pulsing, bittersweet jam about coming to grips with moving on. The steady tambourine and constant guitar riff move the intro along by providing an unwavering cadence for the rest of the instruments to follow, resulting in a powerful sound and victorious vibe. The vocals blend perfectly with all of the instruments with its low tone and even pitches. I appreciate the different levels of emotion this song goes through. It feels like a story, a very easy-to-listen-to story.
"Helicopters" is a spacey, percussion-driven tune with an interesting rhythm within the vocals that contrasts with the rhythm of the instruments. It is easy to hear the immense effort The Stills put into perfecting this song. It almost feels like an epic because of the various layers of sound in it. The song plays like a motivational track on a cross country runner's playlist, giving it a very distinct personality that stays consistent throughout the entire song.
"Lola Stars and Stripes" features some fantastic guitar action that basically dictates the energy of the entire song. A simple percussion rhythm moves in and out of the song, giving the song a fuller sound when appropriate. Each instrument bows out when it is clear that one particular talent is to be showcased, which goes to show The Stills definitely have a sense of musical unity and respect for each other's talent. Very cool.
The Stills stand out because their skills and overall sound are polished. They do not sound like anybody but themselves. Check out the video for "Lola Stars and Stripes" here, and let me know what you think of their sound. Comments are always welcome!
Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.
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