Boris Smile - 'Rockets EP'

On their new EP Rockets, indie folk band Boris Smile tackles the stars. While their new science fiction-themed CD doesn’t quite top the bears-obsessed Beartooth EP, it still delivers the same playful lyricism.

Well, it delivers that eventually. Track one, “Satellites,” consists of three minutes of noise and radio signals. It would make for a decent 10 or 20 second intro, but 180 seconds is too much of a commitment. Save the audio loops for “Revolution 9,” thanks. “Adventures With Rockets [Revisited]” makes up for this stumble, though. Frontman A. Wesley Chung whips out lovelorn lyrics about making out in outer space over Evan Trine’s propulsive drumming. Backed by an orchestra, the band rocks the heck out over the most awesome of dates.

The rest of the EP subverts that enthusiasm, to its detriment. Still, there’s something redeeming about quasi-Weakerthans-ish tracks like “Apollo” and “Are We Alone?”. The disc ends with the way-too-long “8.24.06 (The Humbling of a Planet)”, but props to the band for attempting something more epic. Rockets could use some more propulsion, but it’s still a better than average collection of tunes about the final frontier.

Boris Smile - 'Beartooth EP'

There’s a fine line to be walked when dealing with the cute ‘n’ kitschy, but Boris Smile treads it well on the Beartooth EP. To be fair, it’s not excessively kitschy; surface glances yield melancholic indie folk. But it’s the topics that central songwriter A. Wesley Chung matches to his orchestral pieces that lend Beartooth extra quality. Sure, “Hour of the Wolf” and “Books of Blank Pages” cover traditional approaches to alienation and relationships, but both become a little more literal on “Program Me to Love,” a tune about robot romance. More importantly, the opening track, “Beartooth (spooky version)” is about the power of bears. And fans of the Lewis and Clark Expedition will tell you, bears are to be feared and respected.

Chung ties these novel ideas to stirring compositions, which is what makes Beartooth so memorable. There’s a long list of performers on the EP who handle horns, synths, strings, and choir vocals, and Chung puts ’em all to work. The result: lush indie pop. It’s got more balls than twee – I cannot overstate how much I love songs about bears – and a little more lyrical variety to boot. And it’s not like Boris Smile is all novelties all the time – there’s real heartfelt sadness on “Hour of the Wolf.” So pick your poison – Loneliness? BEARS?! Boris Smile’s got it covered.