One of those talented indie rock acts from the musical wasteland of the late ’90s that’s still going strong, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, still puts out consistently great music, stays away from the mainstream and influences a lot of up-and-coming acts. The quintet from Springfield, MO, has their latest release out — The High Country — and it has a driving, raw sound that keeps everything honest. There’s a certain amount of catchiness with each track, but it’s not overbearing. A great combination of hooks and melodies will have you dive into an album that you won’t want to get out of.
I always love it when a band brings a pop aesthetic while not trying to sound too polished — every song needs a little bit of noise to keep it from being bland and boring. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin does it in excellent fashion by melding styles reminiscent of The Beatles and Archers Of Loaf. A few tracks on The High Country also have a lo-fi quality that mirrors the music of Guided By Voices as well. If you like a lot of old-school alternative rock and vintage guitar-driven pop from the ’60s and ’70s, then you’re going to fall in love with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s latest release.
Sit back and relax; there’s so much craziness going on in this world that it’s no use losing sleep over it. A great way to take a break from the wild charade of life is to dive into my top tracks on the Album Of The Week. De-stress and take a load off, time for your mind to travel to a different place.
It’s always tough to pick just a few tracks off a fantastic album, especially with The High Country. One track that definitely got me latched on from the start is “Full Possession of All Her Powers.” The guitar riffs have a lot of jump and kick to them to make for a perky song that will get you grooving. I always love a song with a lot of fuzz to go along with it, and “Total Meltdown” has just that. The opening hook from the guitars will tickle your fancy and the drum and bass will make you want to play it over and over again. “Step Brother City” is a perfect example of the hooks and melodies that make The High Country so great; the track’s finale gets loud and emphatic for an epic conclusion that’ll astound you.
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin will be rockin’ Great Scott in Allston, Mass on Jul 31 for what should be a cool rock show in one of the best music venues in New England. While you’re there, pick up a copy of The High Country. It’ll fuel your inner sense of nostalgia while keeping things modern and contemporary.
Stream The High Country here: sslyby.bandcamp.com/album/the-high-country