Staring Problem

I caught this band at Whistler......ok not really. I missed their entire set but I bought their cassette and downloaded the songs from their band camp site . I took two pictures of the whole band. Lauren was kind in gathering her bandmates Alix and Jake. The following subjective impressions of the 8 song self-titled debut I hesitate to call a review. I don't presume that kind of authority. I just got all kinds of praise for this band. Staring Problem are from Carbondale, Il.. Upon hearing them they sunk in effortlessly and casually. There was this parking spot right there in the id waiting. They are this casual post-punk muscle car. They just kind of cruise. There is this casual attitude carried along with the urgency. I liked the songs so much it really hurt not seeing them perform. I was sold on them before even entering Whistler. But I downloaded the songs after I met them.....alright, so I become familiar with their debut later in the car, ipod. I like the voice immediately as if part of my mind can speak with it. I know Whistler and so this picture cannot help but impose itself. I did not catch the live show, and so I'll assume the voice is Lauren's . I don't always follow what she says, that's actually hard to do. And to really listen to what is said turns on the analytical part of the brain. I want to enjoy this band first, blindly identify with them. The words will mean something in time. For now the voice is just another instrument, but one that represents you negotiating between the guitar and the bass. They have this casual bass-heavy, dark, post-punk delivery, but not the gloomy depressing baggage that gets people from liking post-punk, goth sounding bands. What I mean with that is, if it's not in you to dress in black, you can still like Staring Problem. And if black is still your thing then so is Staring Problem. They list as part of who they thank Christian Death, and Robert Smith, and that's awesome 'cause those names also resonate with me. And it got me to listen. Damn it! I so would love to have seen them at Whistler, just to see how that audience reacted. Christian Death, The Cure, these subcultural bands were often discovered on dance floors, between friends, and as time passes your chance to see them live become more and more remote and the live experience itself will be remote from you. I mean, you are not just gonna stroll into a small venue and to your left is Robert Smith manning his own merch table. The intimacy is gone. Parking is bad. Lets find our icons in the music we listen to in the small venues.