Alvvays

The Ben Gibbard cover is fine, but it misses out on so much of the full-band dynamic that makes the song special. The wall-of-sound band intro midway through the first line (and again after the bridge). One of the big hooks of the song is the way molly's woozy delivery of "hey, hey" contrasts with the full-steam-ahead charge of the band, and you can't really capture that in a solo performance.

controp: archie is maybe the 5th or 6th best song this band has written

I think the band itself would contest that one.

i mean sheesh, it's good, but generally i agree with this

what strikes me, i guess, is that each of the first two albums has, i dunno, 4 or 6ish songs that are as good / nearly as good? that is impressive!

― alpine static, Wednesday, September 6, 2017 12:37 PM (one year ago)

i LOVE most of the songs from both albums but archie still towers above all

xpost thank you for quoting me, saves me from swooping in and backing you up.

i do believe there's something *special* about Archie, and i would never argue against the position that it's an all-time classic (or even that it's their best song). what i think makes Alvvays incredible is that they keep getting pretty close to it, over and over across two albums. that's not impossible, but it's hard to do! which ... i mean ... just means they're an unquestionably tippy-top-shelf band led by a tippy-top-shelf songwriter.

It’s always been «atop a cake» that’s hit me the hardest

controp: archie is maybe the 5th or 6th best song this band has written

― Karl Malone, Thursday, July 25, 2019 8:50 AM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

seconding this, especially when you reconsider songs like "Party Police," "Dreams Tonite," "Not My Baby," just to name a few

No one mentions 'Ones Who Love You' which is my #1 by some distance

^^^ yes!! definitely up there with the aforementioned

I listened to both albums today and there really isn't much in it. I don't think there's anything close to a bad song on either. Archie might still be my favourite song of theirs but they have a bunch that come close (Party Police, Atop A Cake, Plimsoll Punks, In Undertow, Ones Who Love You).

It's great and heartwarming to see how popular they've become so quickly. At work we have to re-order their albums on a fairly regular basis. When I talk to people about them, they're always so excited about them. One guy said they were his favourite band and this was before the second album had even be released. I've also seen them mentioned as influences by some of the best artists around (The Beths and Hatchie both named them as one of their favourite current bands). Great scores on Rate Your Music too. Interestingly Antisocialites has a higher score and a lot more ratings.

Can anyone throw out some recommendations for other bands which trade in this brand of wistful, understated pop perfection?
Real Estate comes close to the particular rainy-day melancholy I'm after, but I'm looking for a new fix.

bust 'em green by henry's dress, today by galaxie 500, you forgot it in people by broken social scene...

...dunno. i reckon alvvays are the only contemporary guitar pop band worth bothering with to be honest.

first thing i think of is the beths

actually, scratch that. wistful, understated pop perfection, yes. but rainy-day melancholy, no

Japanese Breakfast are probably my favourite current band who do what you describe. Soft Sounds From Another Planet in particular has become one of my most played albums of the decade.

Crying, Charly Bliss and Snail Mail

Cults, maybe?

Luby Sparks?

Veronica Falls

The Clientele

Um, that was more a response to the described theme + Real Estate reference. Otherwise not sure if relevant.

Sacred Paws

Actually the Clientele is pretty close to what I was looking for (also, kudos for making a suggestion that doesn't have a female singer)
Some other solid recommendations above -- thanks ILM!

self titled best guitar album of the past decade or what? still stunning, never bored

lmao sorry i made this same post a year ago. i've got a buzz on today.

goddammit i thought this revive was gonna be a new album

btw, anyone who like Alvvays should definitely check out FRITZ right now:

https://fritzmusic.bandcamp.com/album/pastel-2

*likes

Damn that revive got my hopes up.

sorreeee. i'll get on fritz, ty

for maximum Alvvays-ish-ness, start with "Pastel" ... but the whole album is really good

Okay the false alarm may have been worth it for the FRITZ recommendation. This is solid, and definitely scratches the same itch.

it's so good. i paid way too much to ship the record from Australia, lol

second alvvays album >>> first alvvays album (I like both though)

it's a Perfect From Now On <-> Keep It Like A Secret-ian situation

FRITZ reminds me of Black Tambourine.

Somehow I missed this last year, but they've started playing 2 new songs live:
Many Mirrors
After the Earthquake
Wasn't sure we'd ever see an LP3, but this seems promising.

How has it been almost five years since Antisocialites?

I'm still looking forward to a new album but The Beths stole their thunder a bit for me. It seems likely that they'll already be on their third album by the time this Alvvays one comes out.

Yesss!

https://www.stereogum.com/2192254/alvvays-pharmacist-blue-rev/music/

TRACKLIST:
01 “Pharmacist”
02 “Easy On Your Own?”
03 “After The Earthquake”
04 “Tom Verlaine”
05 “Pressed”
06 “Many Mirrors”
07 “Very Online Guy”
08 “Velveteen”
09 “Tile By Tile”
10 “Pomeranian Spinster”
11 “Belinda Says”
12 “Bored In Bristol”
13 “Lottery Noises”
14 “Fourth Figure”

Blue Rev is out 10/7 via Polyvinyl. Pre-order it here.

Awesome news!

LETS GOOOOO

yay!

The new song is interesting, it sounds like a more psychedelic/dissociated take on the Antisocialites sound.

Thankful for this thread popping up. I've ignored Alvvays previously but just giving then a listen now. They're really good! Reminds me of Camera Obscura but a little less cloying.

Fresh single:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWfG7F-TAWY

New songs so far seem weirdly tuneless imho

To me they seem not so much tuneless as structureless.
Both of their prior albums were slow growers for me though, so I've learned to give this band time.

haven't listened to these yet but I love how every title on the tracklist sounds like a great Alvvays song

Yea they have upped the bleary discord - very dreamy but I reckon the tunes will become wedged in yr brain all the same & will probably have more staying power because of it. Personally I’m into it.

Yea they have upped the bleary discord - very dreamy but I reckon the tunes will become wedged in yr brain all the same & will probably have more staying power because of it. Personally I’m into it.