You Say Party! We Say Die! – Lose All Time (PIAS) Released 18/06/07

It’s East Coast versus West Coast: Canada style, y’all.  On the much-hyped east side, Metric and Stars have been fronting all the Toronto based dance parties, and Montreal is the latest heir to NYC scene hipness.  But over in Vancouver – in the western expanse dominated by Hot Hot Heat, Frog Eyes and other boys clubs – You Say Party! We Say Die! are giving Emily Haines and Co. some pretty decent competition in the Canadian freak-out dance rock turf wars with their second full-length, ‘Lose All Time.’

The exclamation marks are more than a subtle gimmick.  The band, fronted by a shouty Becky Ninkovic, sound just like the punctuation that leads their charge into the hearts, souls and dance shoes of listeners.  And they’re definitely charging.  On driving sonic assaults like ‘Poison,’ the pulsing keys-heavy band of misfits sound like they’re constantly out-of-breath and on the verge of exhausted collapse.  Somehow they manage to come up for breath in time for another and another manic stormer. ‘Like I Give A Care’ begins and ends with a trashy cheerleading call to arms that instructs you to “shut the world out, shut it out, shut it out!” - in case you had any option.  Dancing like a maniacal Jennifer Beals in your own personal Flashdance is pretty much the only choice while listening to this song, whether YSP! WSD! are soundtracking a sit on the morning bus or drunken oblivion on a sticky dancefloor.

Even the most dedicated dance machines need a little rest and YSP! WSD! give you just that, after ten repeated assaults, with the dreamy, piano-glistening ‘You’re Almost There.’  This quiet time proves that these relentless party kids are capable of hitting you in another fierce way with, quite simply, some really nice songs.  The album continues to fade off the dance floor and into some more contemplative and interesting musical places, as when they are fabulously adrift in the sublime ‘Midnight Snake.’ 

Canada is a big place.  There’s lots of room for them to wander and explore - which they certainly do - and prove that they’re more than just a one-note party band.  The long-dominating East Coast better watch out.  YSP! WSD! is about to hit ‘em up.