Thank You and Good Night

The Bound Stems have wrongly been accused as an experimental outfit. Sure, their blustery guitars that on a dime explode and their fanatical adventures into alt jams can be seen as different. Yet, the bands first full length Appreciation Night proves that stereotypes are meant to be blown apart. And thus comes the next majestic thing; a school teacher, comic book art director, lab and hi-tech technicians have created the newest flavor of rock - the Neapolitan collection of dizzying guitar riffs, witty and diverse narratives that stands as a wake up call to the music industry and its parched audience.

Front man Bobby Gallavan’s heartbreaks and ambitions are patterned throughout, wise enough to never lose their psychedelic nature or bashful and cowardly tones. The opening romp ‘Andover’, an ingenious rock rendition stuffed with thick guitars and blended electric keys, rightfully sets the albums attitude as an artistic blend of rock/pop/punk with fist thrust choruses backed by heartened floor drum kicks (perfectly timed by Harvey Danger expatriate Evan Sult). ‘Western Biographic’, deceives as a bubblegum pop effort but even with its airwave friendly sound, it never looses the ‘this is our music organism” the Stems have formed throughout Appreciation Night and soon slaps the guitars into gritty overdrive as if to prove their point. Janie Porche’s teasing moment in ‘Pulling on Pigtails’ - an interlude of sorts too short for its own good - leads way into the most welcome layer to the Stems new formula. ‘Excellent News, Colonel’, a dictated conversation through letters about a complex and miscalculated relationship outrivals as a profound yet tartless pop number that’s swift hand-clap conclusion fittingly confirms the crews ability to introduce and dissolve notes without flaw. The proof of ‘Risking Life and Limb For The Coupon’ with its kitchen sink of flair, humor, off timed pop vocals to reverberated guitars stands as their staple of accomplishment. Sure it’s not new in style, but it decisively builds from the infectious lessons of Yo La Tengo and the screaming heart of Fiery Furnaces to create an alternative and winning function.

Overall, sound falls somewhere between Modest Mouse catching poise and at times proves flashes of Arcade Fire vividness - minus the self indulging atmospheric instants that are hardly missed. As if to mimic their name, the recoiled compositions often launch from the base and tear the roots out with each subsequent track. There are moments when the band feels like they are still discovering all the nuances each brings to the overall construction. But, by the time ‘55 Cross St.’ closes the cover with Gallavan’s hauntingly placid opener and dizzying conclusion, you know this is the breaking point for the Chicago based group. ‘The End’ shouts the final seconds of Appreciation Night. Hardly the fact.

Sean Kendall