ALBUM REVIEW: “Tape Club” by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Tape Club
[Polyvinyl Records]

As un-hip as this may make me sound, I honestly haven’t given Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin a very thorough listen until now; hard to imagine, considering their decade of existence. That makes the release of Tape Club, a collection of the band’s unreleased tracks, a perfect chance to get to know the band. Unlike many anthologies of unreleased material, Tape Club gives a shining first impression for those of us who are a little behind. From the band’s lo-fi beginnings to their newer, more polished works, it’s all ear-pleasing.

Often when spinning a compilation of unreleased songs I can immediately see why they didn’t make it onto the original full-length releases. Typically these types of tracks are too raw and I’m inclined to take off my headphones and go for a walk, or to get that long put-off root canal, before continuing. The exact opposite is true of Tape Club. Even the demos (particularly “Dead Right” and “Back in the Saddle”) that made it onto the album are real aural treats.

One of the most stand-out tracks on the album is “Cardinal Rules,” an indie-anthem written for SSLYBY’s hometown minor league baseball team, the Springfield Cardinals. Anyone who’s been to a baseball game will recognize the signature stadium organ incorporated alongside Cheap Trick-like guitar riffs and infectious group-singing.

All in all, this collection is something not only die-hard Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin fans will enjoy. If you’re looking for an introduction, Tape Club is a worthy starting point.