Elvyn

No band sets out to become cult heroes. They all want their songs to be heard and appreciated by the largest possible audience. But when the music is as honest, and uncompromisingly adherent to a collective vision, as Elvyn’s is, sometimes the world just needs to catch up on its own. It’s not as though Elvyn are doing anything deliberate to embellish this image about themselves. In fact, if this were the 1970s, they would be standing shoulder to shoulder with Big Star, Badfinger, the Raspberries, Dwight Twilley, and all the other power pop pioneers. What Elvyn can claim is arriving at the same time in the 1990s when bands like Wilco and Teenage Fanclub were countering rampant aggression with the simple joys of a well-crafted melody. Elvyn have never veered from this approach, continuing to write better songs and discover better tones, all in pursuit of the ever-elusive perfect song. Valley Of The Kilowatt Hour is the first album Elvyn have released since 2010, and officially marks their 15th anniversary as a band. For all of the changes in music since then, it will likely serve as a first impression to a new generation of bloggers, critics, and radio programmers who may have a skewed perception of what a guitar-based outfit is supposed to sound like. Above all, it’s supposed to be human, and after so many years of playing together, the chemistry shared by the members of Elvyn has coalesced into a sound only these five guys can create. Lead vocalist/lead guitarist Ryan Beerman was able to harness that in the studio, producing, engineering and mixing the album using his unique sonic palette. Even longtime Elvyn fans will immediately concede Valley Of The Kilowatt Hour is, in all respects, the best album they’ve made to date. This judgment could be solely based on the power pop dictum that each song can serve as a single. Yet, when forced to choose, the band selected opening track “Ellie,” a classic unrequited love story wrapped in a warm sweater of a chorus. The other contender, “AM,” showcases the twangier side of Elvyn they’ve not surprisingly held onto given that (as true Canadians), the sound of Neil Young & Crazy Horse is part of their DNA. But within that framework, the band’s musical maturity speaks volumes on the slow-burning moodiness of “Last Laugh,” and the exquisite George Harrison-esque touches on “True Luv Can’t Hide.” It’s at this point, when getting deeper into the album, that its sonic consistency comes into sharp focus, as fuzzed-out guitars find room to breathe alongside sparkling three-part harmonies; the kind of loose and breezy arrangements that recall the times in our lives when all that mattered was trying to cram as much fun into a weekend as possible. As the chorus to “Robins Song” goes, “This is going to be the best summer ever.” ‘Nuff said. Along with Ryan Beerman, Elvyn consists of his brother Joel on drums and vocals, guitarist Jeremy Knibbs, and brothers Jason and Dean O’Reilly on—respectively—bass and keyboards/acoustic guitar. The band splits its time between Toronto and Peterborough, Ontario, where they produced Valley Of The Kilowatt Hour in their home studio. Soon after forming, Elvyn released a three-song demo entitled As Dark As It Is, followed by the full-length Ten Car Stereo, and an EP, The Big Bay. Their most recent album is 2010’s The Decline, which Goldmine Magazine listed at #9 for its Top 20 albums that year. PRESS QUOTES FOR "THE DECLINE" - (2010, Little Wagon Records) "A fantastic album full of pop-folk sing along songs that swing from the opener Those Were The Days a lovely up-tempo summer pop rock song that taps into those feeling of nostalgia for times gone by that we can all relate to... If you like your pop-folk 60s/70s inspired (a la Blue Oyster Cult, Starland Vocal Band) this is the album for you." - I Think You'll Like This Song (England) "Elvyn are worthy heirs of the noble family of beautiful guitar pop and American flavors ranging from the Byrds to the Teenage Fanclub. This is a well-rounded record... with powerful gems such as "Those Were The Days", "Lotta Lies", "Don't Leave, Don't Go" or "The Decline" and timelessly beautiful songs as "I'll Come Back", "I Guess I Was Wrong" or "Do not Fall In Love". 4/5 - Cuelga Al DJ (Spain) BEST ALBUMS OF 2010 - Elvyn, The Decline - "We were particularly struck by the innocence of the lyrics which recall a simpler time. These are songs that linger for quite some time after hearing" - Power Pop Review (U.S.A.) TOP-20-OF-2010, #9. Elvyn, The Decline Ever wonder what Teenage Fanclub would sound like if they jammed with a couple of alt-country dudes? These Canadians have the answer. Wonderful songs. - Goldmine Magazine (U.S.A.) "The small, warmly-lit stage at the Dakota was a suitable backdrop for the mellow energy that spilled from... The band (as they) worked through tunes such as "Those Were The Days" and "Don’t Fall In Love" from their 2010 full length album, The Decline, exposing a handful of 60's rock influences, with some vocal harmonies hinting toward early Crosby Stills & Nash. The crowd swayed, and some even sang along, to the classic country song, 'Nature Of Your Game.'" - Sticky Magazine (Toronto, Canada) BEST ALBUMS OF 2010, #12 of 100 - Under The Tangerine Tree (Italy) TOP 10 OF 2010 (#3) - "The album opens with a nostalgic song cut entitled 'Those Were The Days' which presents the sound, heavenly melodies, clean guitars and a precise and elegant rhythm section... 'Don't Leave, Don't Go' is a real melodic climax, a piece that could have been written by George Harrison in one of his highest moments of inspiration, definitely beautiful... This disc is an instant classic and a masterpiece of 2010." Powerpop Action (Madrid, Spain) BEST ALBUMS OF 2010 - #7 ELVYN, THE DECLINE "Canadian pop never sounded so good. Imagine a slightly countrified Teenage Fanclub with stacked harmonies and songs." - Conqueror Of The Moon (U.S.A.) TOP 50 OF 2010 - #4 ELVYN, THE DECLINE "I instantly fell in love with Canadian pop group Elvyn and it wasn’t just a little crush. Our relationship has only gotten stronger during the year and The Decline is definitely one of the greatest pop albums of 2010. Kind of like Teenage Fanclub with little country influences. What a lovely, harmonic and extremely beautiful pop album." - One Chord To Another (Finland) "They succeed wonderfully in a love song like "Be Mine Today" (with nice harmonica playing), not to sound too silly. A bit like the Travelling Willburys at their best: near the border of kitsch, but with the taste to avoid stepping over it." - Rootstime.be (Belgium) 2010 Honors List - ELVYN, THE DECLINE (Little Wagon) - "The record, a straight-ahead power-pop issue reminiscent of the Posies, is likable at its core and endearing at its very best... Special honors goes to “Lotta Lies,” with a beautiful guitar riff from REM’s Reckoning-era playbook, and “Don’t Leave, Don’t Go,” which, if there’s any pop justice, would be widely covered by some major-label artist who could make this band a mint." - Dagger 'Zine (Portland, Oregon) "ELVYN- THE DECLINE- (Little Wagon) - The third record from this Canadian quartet who seem to really like Teenage Fanclub (Big Star too) but while you can pick the influences don’t discount this as the band is excellent. The songwriting is superb and they don’t forget the hooks. Our friends from the Great White North have done it again, well done chaps." - Dagger 'Zine (Portland, Oregon) "Elvyn come back with a vengeance, offering 11 tracks that deftly blend Crazy Horse ragged glory with pure power pop craftsmanship... The guitar interplay between Ryan Beerman and Jeremy Knibbs is warm and fuzzy, while the harmonies are consistently spot on and shimmering" — Jason Schneider/Exclaim! Magazine "WHOA - an immediate power pop classic, a perfect fit for a majority of Not Lamers -no question. Evoking sounds of Swedish power pop bands like The Merrymakers and Beagle and classic melodicisms of Teenage Fanclub with vocals that sound like a combination of Badfinger and The Hollies." - Not Lame Recording Co. (Ft. Collins, Colorado) "Golden Pop at it's finest... A nice balance throughout the recording of upbeat power pop numbers, and mellower romantic songs of love and heartbreak... The album's undeniable highlight however is Nature Of Your Game, a classic country song that would not sound out of place amongst The Sadies' repertoire." - itsnotthebandihateitstheirfans.com (Toronto, Canada) "Wonderfully melodic... There's nothing in "Decline" about Elvyn's sound and they've got a definite top 10 of 2010 contender on their hands" - Absolute Powerpop (Florida, USA) "Starting with the stellar "Those Were The Days", it's got a jangle similar to Teenage Fanclub, and the rootsy folk harmonies of The Jayhawks... The consistent quality of the musicianship and songwriting are what puts this band over the top. It's not to be missed. 8/10" - Powerpopaholic (New York, U.S.A.) "Apologies in advance if you're unable to stop humming them for the rest of the day." - Beat Surrender (England) "That Elvyn could be compared to the Dwight Twilley Band is no small feat, as not many bands could claim that. 4/5" - Altcountry.nl (Holland) "The Decline is an excellent album full of classic pop songwriting, gentle country-tinged sounds and wonderful singing... This is simply fantastic music and I’m already in love with Elvyn. 5/5" - One Chord To Another (Turku, Finland) New album entitled "Valley Of The Kilowatt Hour" available now at www.elvyn.com!