2006, Barsuk
Handclaps, a harmonica, a strummed acoustic guitar, a plethora of the lesser percussion instruments, an almost-ethereal vocal duet, and, of course, much more combine for a slightly noisy introduction -- but interesting, nonetheless -- to the fourth full-length album from the husband and wife duo that comprise Viva Voce; thusly, the pace is set for Get Yr Blood Sucked Out.
Get Yr Blood Sucked Out feels remarkably confident; being the band's fourth full-length doesn't hurt matters any. Viva Voce displays a preponderance of skill and know-how with their solid, rhythmic style -- and though it seems that an album that is primarily composed of tracks equally paced (but, don't fear, there is certainly the requisite varation in both pacing and sonic style), would grow tiring, Viva Voce proves that this is certainly not the case, at least with Get Yr Blood Sucked Out.
Tracks like "Bill Bixby," a short, almost eerie (the background noise present certainly doesn't hurt the effort any) piano-centric track, and "We Do Not Fuck Around," which takes the group's poppy style to its apex, contribute heavily to the album; Viva Voce, it would seem, is a much more varied group than the first few tracks of the album would seem to indicate -- and it's not even that said opening tracks are of a dubious quality; much to the contrary, even.
With a seemingly unending amount of energy, Viva Voce utilizes a set of less common rhythmic additions (less common for the musical style, at the very least) throughout the album. It's the small touches like this that really define Get Yr Blood Sucked Out -- the harmonizations and the slower moments stand out -- come together for music that displays an ultimate regard for pop music. doesn't feel forced or pushed, but instead feels like the only album that could have come from this band, at this point in time -- and, as a listener, I wouldn't have it any other way.