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From The Archives: Broom by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

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If you’ve ever had even one conversation with me about music, you know that I absolutely adore Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Most people balk at the seemingly-pretentious hipster band name and ask me their name once more. I first heard their tracks off their premier album, Broom, through a friend in college. She raved about title track, “Pangea,” and made me listen to “Anne Elephant,” which she insisted had a very spooky vibe to it.

To this day, this album rings true with memories of wistful nostalgia, recalling me back to seasons and places of my past. Their songs on Broom retain a shoegaze, backyard recording element that I can’t help but find completely charming. Philip Dickey’s vocals recall times of adolescence, innocence, growing up and learning lessons from whatever moments we are given. Coupled with the garage rock backdrop, this album has always retained a special place in my soul, the record always there to dust off and spin when I needed it most.

Hailing from Springfield, Missouri, this indie rock group finds its name from Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s first president. The name itself is awesome as it truly doesn’t convey their sound in any way, but the ingenuity of it is enough to keep new listeners in their fan base. Broom was released when they were still unsigned, and though their future releases are all crisper in production and clearer in their intonation, Broom retains this pristine quality in its lack of overworking and its pure identity.

Title track “Pangea” is the perfect song to drive to, windows down, breeze blowing through and sunglasses on.

Pangea / We used to be together / Why’d we have to drift apart?

These vocals are able to convey such urgency, such spirit, and are a perfect marker for what their signature sound truly means. Each outro of songs on Broom leads directly into the next, causing it to flow seamlessly for its short but sweet 29-minute duration. “I am Warm & Powerful,” up next, is able to transform from an angsty beginning, to a steamrolling melody and inspired lyrics, when Dickey wails, But at least we’ve got each other.

Juxtaposed against the album’s more upfront numbers, gorgeous and glittering understated pieces flank the album’s corners. “What’ll We Do” features an ambling piano backdrop as the song emerges as a tiny love note.

“Oregon Girl” is illuminated as the album’s standout ballad, and one of their most catchy singles. Their youthful spirit and storytelling is amplified with this song, as they recall a snapshot of lackadaisical tomfoolery.

My personal favorite ballad on the record is the last, titled “Gwyneth.” The chorus lyrics are almost indistinguishable at times, yet it retains this charm about it at the same time, as it ends with a subtle “Gwyneth, oo-wee-oo.”

In a time when edgy technical production reigns supreme in music, it’s refreshing to hear an album that was created in its most pure state and harbors forever a quality of innocence, a time capsule of youthfulness and wonder. As Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin have matured their sound over their eight-year period as a group, I find their first album to be the most endearing, one that hooked me in my friend’s dorm room way back when, continuing to be directed to their sound time and time again.

Happy listening,

Sarah



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