music: heard

> THE STILLS: LOGIC WILL BREAK YOUR HEART
Montreal art rockers deliver infectious alt pop album.

By Allison M. Counasse
Music Critic

Following in the footsteps of Coldplay and Interpol can't be easy, but The Stills show they're up for the challenge with Logic Will Break Your Heart. Released in October 2003, the CD really took off in late Spring 2004 with the lead track "Still in Love Song" dominating Los Angeles radio stations KROQ and Indie 103.1.

The Stills hail from Montreal by way of New York City. Their sound owes as much to The Cure's style as it does Joy Division's Substance. The Stills mask melancholy with melody, peppering their songs with images of war, despair, and general ennui. Matthew Arnold captured a similar sentiment in his 1800s poem "Dover Beach".

The lilting pop rhythms of "Lola Stars and Stripes" belie a darker nature in lyrics like: "We all need to feel secure / We're so middle class / But I'm still waiting for next week's / chemical blast". The chorus is haunting and pessimistic: "Will the world end me and you? / Lola, Lola / No, we're never gonna make it through."

The title "Logic Will Break Your Heart" is lifted from Track 2, "Gender Bombs", a shimmering pop number that speaks of suicide dreams.

Stand-out tracks include "Love and Death", "Yesterday Never Tomorrows", "Lola Stars and Stripes", and, of course, the stellar "Still in Love Song"

Buy this.

(04-0805)

info:
Vice Recordings
Release Date: 10/21/2003

track listing:
01. Lola Stars and Stripes
02. Gender Bombs
03. Changes Are No Good
04. Love and Death
05. Of Montreal
06. Ready for It
07. Let's Roll
08. Allison Krausse
09. Animals and Insects
10. Still in Love Song
11. Fevered
12. Yesterday Never Tomorrows

related links:
The Stills - official site