Viva Rose City
November 20th, 2009
When did this record come out? May? Jeez Louise, it really takes some time to get around to these things. I meant to pick up Viva Voce’s Rose City when it was released, but I never did; and not until after their excellent show at the Seattle Center Mural was I finally compelled to get my grubby little paws on it. I think you’ll be glad I did. Or, at least, I’m glad I did. Can’t really say what you’ll think.
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I had a hard time choosing which songs to focus on and that’s because this album is so astonishingly solid. No track-skippers here. If you find yourself drawn to splendid songwriting (minus the frills), heavy crackerjack guitars (sometimes clear, sometimes hazy), dual male-female vox, and slow psych rock jams interspersed with swift, agile boot-rock, then give this record a spin. You can try a couple on for size below.
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Kevin and Anita Robinson are the masterminds behind Viva Voce, and, as the more countrified psychedelia of previous records might suggest, hail originally from Alabama. They’ve called Portland, OR home for most of this millennium, and found it so fit that they decided to write a song about it. “Rose City” is a swaggerin’, struttin’ fast-paced homage with some incredibly nimble—and often nasty—guitar licks. Anita, whose alluring, comfortable coo often provides a nifty counterbalance to her brash and fiery axe-swingin’, sings “I wanna go back where it’s grey and green / and the protest songs have tambourines”. As a former Portland resident, I get giddy listening to this line.
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The two opening tracks put the listener on notice. Kevin, responsible for the rhythm of the record, starts “Devotion” off with some shifty drum work and a bullet-fired bass, while Anita’s jetplane guitar does a Jesus & Mary Chain fly by. It marches into the aftermath on a well-worn path, to paraphrase the lyrics. I’ve read where critics derided this song as an unwelcome departure for the band, but I say bring it the fuck on. Same goes for “Die A Little”, likely the rowdiest and most spirited tune the duo has penned. How can you not love that echo-y elastic guitar riff and the “ooo OOO ooo” refrain? Absolute spitfire. Finally, “Red Letter Day” brings the band back to what made them successful. It’s a woozy walk through a vintage lovesick daze, complete with sleepy soothsaying vocals, wheezy, washed out guitars, and that intoxicating 60′s rhythm chug.
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Get stoked for one of P-town’s best bands. Quick, before the year is out!
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