Review Summary: #1 contender for most charming album of 2011
Put down your death metal and pick up a banjo, because Laura Stevenson and the Cans are going to turn your insides to mush, commandeer your heart, and keep you coming back for more. Sure that may be a hyperbolic statement, but ya know what? It can't be that far from the truth. Laura and the Cans have created an album that incorporates pop, polka, indie rock, and folk, yet it
comes off as charming rather than cheesy. Yeah okay, Laura sings about relationships and the problems that come with them, but not once do they seem cliché.
In fact, her voice, which can honestly be described as “cute,” seems to be able make anything sound sincere. Fortunately enough, her lyricism far surpasses the normal drab about broken hearts and moving on and instead shows wit and some humor. The songwriting is equally impressive. Songs such as the single, “Master of Art,” show an upbeat and fun side of the band instrumentally, while other songs like “The Wait” display a tamer and somewhat intimate side of them.
Instrumentally, Laura Stevenson and the Cans show some cleverness as well. For example, the bass, while subtle, does much more than dropping background noise. Many times it feels like it comes out of nowhere and starts leading along the song. I also adore the fact that they are also able to incorporate unorthodox instrumentation, such as the aforementioned banjo, the horns, accordion, and violins without sounding obnoxious or like they are trying too hard.
With bigger acts such as Neurosis, Beastie Boys, Cave In, and Bon Iver preparing to release albums within the year, a lot of decent artists have a high risk of getting lost in the shuffle. Laura Stevenson and the Cans are one band in particular that should not be overlooked, as
Sit Resist, while maybe not the best album of the year, and definitely not the most technical album of the year, is undoubtedly at the top of the list of most lovely and (once again) charming
albums of the year.
