Very Secretary - Standing In the Shade

Artist: Very Secretary Title: Standing In the Shade Catalog#: Mud-CD-037 Price: $7.50	Tracks on this CD:
	Feeling Cheated
	This Lovesick
	Sister Psyche
	Politic
	Paper Bag
	Countryless
	Sharp Dressers
	Paid To Forget
	Permanence
	Giannini Eyes

other releases by Very Secretary

Very Secretary
Dave Johnson-Guitar, Vocals
Allen Johnson-Bass
Roy Ewing-Drums
Rachael Dietkus-Violin

photo by Mark Lobos

"Standing in the Shade"

On August 5, 1999, Mud Records released "Standing in the Shade," the second full-length album from Urbana-Champaign, Illinois-based, Very Secretary. The band debuted their first CD "Best Possible Souvenir" in January 1998, and in the intervening 18 months has added violinist Rachael Dietkus and seen the departure of guitarist Tim Adamson. The other founding members, brothers Allen and Dave Johnson, and Roy Ewing remain.

On "Standing in the Shade" Very Secretary continue to create songs that are simultaneously exuberant and aggressively sad. This album displays the band's talent for seamlessly moving from full band pieces into the stripped-down acoustic setting and vice versa. Prophetic lyrics dealing with adversity and standing up to it (standing in the shade), are quietly delivered with a conversational charm that plays off the seriousness of the music. Rachael Dietkus' violin is no extraneous embellishment, but a new voice that gives the band a richly lyrical, and complete sound. Each bell-like guitar line capitalizes on the last, in arrangements filled with blooming crescendos and bursting, spontaneous drums.

Very Secretary’s recent contribution to the Tree Records’ Post Marked Stamps compilation, signaled a more acoustic driven sound that is realized on "Standing in the Shade."

Seldom (damn near never) does a band come out of an incestuous and trendy scene like the Midwest's indie-emo-pop culture and do something so remarkably different from their peers and label mates as Very Secretary has. Although remaining part of the tight-knit group, VS operates on the other end of the spectrum from pals like Braid (Roy Ewing's old band) and the Promise Ring (with whom Rachael Dietkus has collaborated). The difference is duly noted and overwhelmingly appreciated. Standing in the Shade marks Very Secretary's return to a quartet with the departure of guitarist Tim Adamson. This album also showcases the complete inclusion of Dietkus' violin which is used with amazing cohesion alongside the standard rock three piece to create a very nonstandard sound. Using the violin is an old trick in indie rock but VS incorporate the bow and strings so flawlessly that it is almost unnoticed within the composition. "Sister Psyche" weaves seamlessly through three and a half minutes of sound that is at the same time somber and rejoiceful, quietly overriding David Johnson's softly sung vocals. The entire album is more acoustic feeling than last year's Best Possible Souvenir and the super slow burn of "Countryless" gives a taste of the ultra-subdued sound that VS seem to be heading toward. Taken with their nearly non-existent tour schedule, the richness and complexity of Very Secretary's music could limit them to a life of obscurity in today's hook-laden, radio friendly indie rock world but will undoubtedly ensure them much deserved respect from those who happen to find them, myself included.

Eric J Herboth
Lost At Sea