By Taylor Breckles (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: February 5, 2014
Usually I don’t pay much attention to the ads I see in the movie theatre, but this time I did. That’s right, this band was featured on one of those artist interviews that play before you movie starts, and it piqued my interest. Because the same interview played a few times, I was able to jot down the name of this band, and it was worth it.
Although this album only has nine songs on it, all of them are great. That’s not an exaggeration either. Usually, most albums — even the good ones — have at least one song you hesitate on before skipping it or don’t like it outright, but none of those exist on We Still Move on Dance Floors.
The first song on the album, “Sailing” — the one that was previewed in the theatre clip — is extremely catchy and hooked me instantly, as did many others, the common theme being gentle progression. The first song often sets the tone for the rest of the album and can give a sign of the quality and likeability of all the songs to come. That’s true for this album as well, with the overall impression being fun and catchy with an air of folk.
The last song on the album, “The Fire,” is a slower song with only vocals, acoustic guitar, and violin. It is an interesting choice to end the album on such a sombre note. Regardless of the melancholy feel of the last song, it leaves the listener wanting more, particularly since the album as a whole is upbeat.
Although it’s hard to decide, I would argue that one of the best songs on the album is “Home Sweet Home” because of its toe-tapping beat, meaningful lyrics, and the feeling of joy you get when you listen to it.
The Strumbellas are a relatively new band — We Still Move on Dance Floors follows 2012’s My Father and The Hunter as their sophomore release. Although We Still Move on Dance Floors is only 30 minutes long, it is worth every second.
Although the folk aspect might turn some people off, the music is not stereotypical folk. There are some songs that include banjo and violin, but they’re undertones rather than the main instruments.
Honestly, I haven’t even had the chance to fully register the lyrics because I find myself getting so lost in the music. Once you’re listening, you start swaying or tapping along and get lost in a different world.
From what I have retained, the instrumentals and lyrics are quite good, holding potentially sad yet realistic messages such as asking a father for help in life, wanting to fulfill life adventures, and losing a loved one. The songs may be considered sad, but the instrumental accompaniment helps the listener to feel positive and hopeful.
This is a great album and I would recommend it to anyone. The Strumbellas are also Canadian, so we can establish more Canadian pride and be one step closer to compensating for Justin Bieber!
