SOW: Still In Love Song by The Stills
March 05, 2004 | 
14 Comments
The Artist: The Stills
The Song: Still In Love Song
The Album: Logic Will Break Your Heart
Released 2003
The Stills are one of the most highly regarded bands of 2003, and it’s well deserved. They’ve been on my list for a potential Song of The Week for months now and as usual, I didn’t get around to posting them until I’d seen them in concert.
I saw them Monday night and was extremely impressed. I expected them to be good and they didn’t disappoint.
The Stills, from Montreal, are one of the many bands popping up that wear their 80’s influence on their sleeves. Or so you would think at first blush. They’ve been compared to New Order, The Cure, The Smiths, and U2. All great bands from any era. In concert they really brought a sound that reminded me of one of my favorites, The Mission.
This week’s song “Still In Love Song”, which is my favorite of this album, has a really great pop/dance/goth sound that recalls some of my favorite 80’s bands. The Bolshoi come to mind and, again, The Mission and some of New Orders older stuff. If it were to have been released back in 1986 it would have been a huge hit with all the bat-cavers, no doubt.
I can just see that forward and back sway, hands behind the back, stringly black hair over a too-white face. The overly-dramatic Gothic Shuffle…
Listening to their album Logic Will Break Your Heart, which is quite enjoyable (and despite all the comparisons I really think they’ve got something original going) I could hear a bit of all those great bands in them but felt they’d come to the sound on their own.
The Stills show really great potential. They’re one of those bands who’s recorded music, while great, is so much better once you’ve seem them perform. 80’s revival or no, I love it and can’t wait to see what they do next.
Recommended if you like: The Mission, Interpol, New Order, The Smiths, Idlewild, U2, The Rapture
Filed under: Song of The Week
Comments
1. eric said:
I think I saw them with Interpol in Seattle last year and they basically sounded… exactly like Interpol. Which makes sense, I suppose, for an opener, but it made it seem like they were just some off-brand Interpol.
That’s not to say they didn’t sound good, by any means, just pretty derivative…
Posted on March 7, 2004 11:19 AM | #
2. Allen said:
Great song, I heard it on the radio here in Detroit a couple days ago and then promptly forgot who it was. Thanks for helping me remember!
Posted on March 7, 2004 11:56 AM | #
3. mark said:
Speaking of derivative… Interpol? I liked them better when they were Joy Division. Am I complaining? Only a little. Weak 80’s retreads of all sorts are still better than most of the dreck Chicago’s crappy alternative station is pumping out these days.
Posted on March 7, 2004 06:46 PM | #
4. Keith said:
I tend to agree with Mark. I’ve never been able to get into Interpol and frankly, while it’s pretty obvious The Stills draw on similar influences I don’t really get the comparison to Interpol.
Posted on March 7, 2004 07:07 PM | #
5. Gerhard said:
I’ve been a fan of The Mission since forever, and will definately check this band out. Btw, be thankful for even a ‘crappy alternative station’, at least you have one :-)
Posted on March 7, 2004 09:49 PM | #
6. Seth Thomas Rasmussen said:
So based on your “if you like these…” list, The Stills are yet another shameless rehashing of the 80s? Well, hold the phone and stop the presses..
Posted on March 8, 2004 07:11 AM | #
7. eric said:
I know Interpol is just as derivative as anyone else rehashing the 80s, but considering the context I think it’s a valid comparison.
Posted on March 8, 2004 12:45 PM | #
8. christina spillane said:
you guys are the best yet and i love your music it
really rocks guys i hope to see you guys in band some time this year because i really get what
you guys are saying in your music i can say i really relate to the songs
p.s
keep rockin guys
because your the best love
your bigest fan
christina
Posted on March 15, 2004 11:19 AM | #
9. Scott L said:
I’ve only heard “Still In Love Song” from the Stills so far, but I like what I hear. Maybe it’s me, but I pick up some ironic “This is not a Love Song” groove by Public Image Limited from this one.
Posted on March 19, 2004 09:22 AM | #
10. Tiffany said:
very awsome song. its fresh, new, i think we’ve been waiting for something like this for a while. rock on
Posted on April 5, 2004 10:15 AM | #
11. Gregg Strutman said:
Just amazing sound. These guys really rock. Isaw them live in Montreal….A show to remember, Hope to see them again.
Posted on April 9, 2004 06:15 PM | #
12. Wendi said:
I always liked Joy Division, but couldn’t get into Interpol for some reason…but my point is that I think the Stills are soooo impressive. They do have an ’80s sound, but they do it so well.
Posted on April 9, 2004 07:36 PM | #
13. Kellie said:
Hey
this band is good. and i really love there song still in love. its there new one. yah well thats a good song .. and thats all i really had to say
later !
Posted on May 9, 2004 04:51 PM | #
14. JETFTY said:
I’ve only heard “Still In Love Song” from the Stills so far, but I like what I hear. Maybe it’s me, but I pick up some ironic “This is not a Love Song” groove by Public Image Limited from this one.
Posted on June 29, 2004 02:24 AM | #
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