Album Review: Yes Nice - Yes Nice

Originally published April 14, 2009 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Yes Nice
Yes Nice
Self-released

On Yes Nice’s debut full-length album, the Canadian band is close to perfecting the art of the serenade. With warm melodies and lyrics for lovers on cloud nine, the self-titled album is an easy and fun listen for any occasion and mood.

The music and gentle vocals show the utmost sincerity with charming lyrics, such as those found on the opening track, “When I Saw the Sun Going Down”.

“I believe in the words you sing”, affectionately says lead vocalist Nathaniel Wong.

Simple guitars carry a 1960s rock vibe, as well as, a touch of vocal styling similar to those of Jack Antonoff of Steel Train. The album does not stick purely to soft tempos. The songs’ dynamics and adorning of violins and xylophone maintain the listener’s interest.

The four first tracks on the album focus on the tenderness of love, but starting with “Sous La Lune”, which translates to “Under the Moon,” the band seems to have a little more fun. The track is sung in French, pushing romanticism to another level. The melody is mid-tempo and sweet. The tambourine and concertina make listeners feel as though they are sitting at a café in France.

The next track sends Yes Nice to Argentina for the song “Tango”. The violin and percussion make the song sound very dramatic, just like the dance. The lyrics are spoken, and segments of chamber chanting add a touch of Italy.

The band gets really silly on “Hay-Ay-La-Ma-Hay-Ah”, a track with high-pitched group vocals, and “Children Talk With the Old People”, which incorporates a darling children’s choir for the chorus.

Yes Nice is that sweet guy who secretly has a crush on his female best friend. He is kind, silly, and always says the right things, but fails to get past the best friend stage.

However, unlike that type of guy, Yes Nice has the potential to be more than just a cutesy band that sings about love, dreams and moonlight.

Album Review: Yes Nice - Yes Nice EP

Originally published April 13, 2009 in Soundcheck Magazine.
Direct link to article

Yes Nice
Yes Nice EP
Self-released

Yes Nice, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, can be fittingly described as being made of sugar and spice, and everything nice. However, the proportions of violin-infused indie rock, sunny 1960s pop, and funky bass lines on the band’s self-titled EP are slightly off-balance.

There are some great songs on the EP, and it is livelier and more varied than the band’s full-length, which also is self-titled. However, there are too many ideas for squeezing into the eight tracks. Yes Nice is capable of succeeding in many styles, but the young band, which has been together for a little more than a year, still is trying to hone in on its sound.

Yes Nice is at its best when it focuses on its winsome and mystical sound with violins, xylophone and handclaps. The opening “Flame Intro” does just that. It would be hard for a listener’s ears not to perk up with the simple but catchy sound of handclaps, accented by soft violins. The violins are reminiscent of other young bands, such as Ra Ra Riot, but are less dramatic.

The violin intro bleeds into the delicate “The Flame”. The male lead vocals harmonize sweetly with female vocals and complement the crispy sounds of fire and fireflies at the end of the song.

“Pizzicato” and “Good Old Days” are two songs where Yes Nice really shines. “Pizzicato” is an instrumental track that easily could have been arranged by Kaki King or Sufjan Stevens. Strings, shakers and xylophone help create a calming image of rhythmic, dripping water. “Good Old Days” is a fun, cheerful track that starts with the chorus, which is about the sun, flowers and time. About halfway through the song, the tempo dips down and builds back up to the entrancing guitar.

The EP’s imbalance is shown on “Demons”. The vocal style remains as soft as it is on the other tracks, but a guitar part sounds like a combination of classic rock and modern rock bands, such as Incubus and Red Hot Chili Peppers. It throws off the mood that the other songs created.

“Anywhere With You” also mixes in a different style; in this case, it is a funky, reggae sound. The latter track is more seamless and holds on to the enchanting factor with violins and xylophone, which sound like buzzing bees.

An EP is a good place to experiment with styles, and with a little more work, Yes Nice will find its ideal recipe.