Love Of Everything Keeps Getting Better

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on May 11, 2010 4:40PM

Bobby Burg is a pretty young guy, but he's already a local indie veteran. His music career includes a long list of indie bands, including Chin Up Chin Up, Make Believe, Vacations and Beauty Pageant, and he’s been a member of local collective Joan of Arc for nearly seven years. He started Love of Everything as a solo act back in ’99 when he recorded the first of his 11 albums, which he released on his own record label aptly titled Record Label.

Now a duo with the addition of Burg’s wife Elisse La Roche, Love of Everything has gained a richer, fuller sound compared to its previous one-man-band feel. And whereas Burg’s previous albums were usually home-recorded, they took their new release Best in Tensions to the studio this time around, balancing the duo’s minimalist, lo-fi pop with a healthy dose of studio polish.

In total, the album only runs about 25 minutes with most songs under two minutes, and brevity serves it well. Each track is a short burst of minimalist pop with catchy melodies, fuzzy guitar riffs, simple drumming and high-pitched vocals. It all goes by so fast that most songs seem to blur together, but certain exceptional tracks call for a second listen, such a “Boy Friending” with its melancholy melody or the emotional ballad, “Marry My Wife,” which opens simply “Remember to forget this.” Perhaps our favorite track is “Birds, Ice Cream and Whales,” borrowed from the act’s last album Ghosts & Friends. It has a sunny West-coats vibe contrasted by the edgy feel of a twangy, repetitive guitar riff.

The duo just returned from touring Europe and Japan, and they’re ready to support the new album with a short U.S. tour, which kicks off next Tuesday with a record release show at the Empty Bottle. They’ll be accompanied by openers Calibrated Crematorium, another Chicago lo-fi pop act, as well as crazy, sloppy punk outfit Loose Dudes. It should be a pretty entertaining show, so stop by, have a few beers and support your local music.

Love of Everything’s record release show is Tuesday, May 18 at The Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 8pm, $5, 21+