Sweetheart XOXOX review - the Georgia Straight

XOXOX (Independent)
Sweetheart might not be the most prolific act around—this six-track release is the first we’ve heard from the band since its debut LP came out in 2007—but its songs display an attention to detail that suggests it hasn’t spent the past four years perfecting its hair.
It’s not that Sweetheart’s compositions are particularly complex, though. Quite the opposite is true, but economy is the group’s greatest strength. Witness “London Girl”: built on a rock-solid foundation of churning power chords, the song surges forward and explodes into its chorus with a burst of melody that will resonate with anyone who ever wondered why the Killers got huge and Stellastarr didn’t.
Which is another way of saying that if you like your power pop crisply played and tightly arranged, you could do a lot worse than numbers like the punkish opener “Perfect” or the synth-buzzed closing salvo “Less Conversation”. The latter finds frontman Marty Zylstra howling emotively on the chorus without ever losing sight of the hook, which is something he seems to have dead in his sights at all times.
(Jon Lucas - Georgia Straight)

Sweetheart "XOXOX" EP Review: reposted from Beatroute (November 2011 issue)

One of Vancouver's soaring power pop bands, Sweetheart, return to the grind with their latest EP, the unsurprisingly titled, six-track, XOXOX. Fans of Sweetheart will find no unexpected surprises on this 20-minute EP, though it is by no means a disappointment. It is clear that the trio have found their pocket and are quite comfortable in it, letting their own chops shine through with little regard to the "correct" way of doing things.
     The album opens with "Perfect" before quickly moving into the hilariously titled "David Bowie is Dead?", a Britpop track that should entice disillusioned twenty-somethings across Canada.  Over a strong, driving, backbeat, frontman Marty Zylstra sings, "Your boyfriend said/That your girlfriend said/David Bowie is dead." These are not the most complicated arrangements on the planet, but such is the emotional import behind the band that the simplicity works in their favour, letting their hearts burn brightly on their sleeves.
     Album standout, "London Girl," sounds cool and sophisticated, opening with a subdued line that gradually opens up into the chorus. Sweetheart cast direct lines to their influences across the ocean in England, such that you could easily mistake them for the bands that gained popularity in the early 2000s like Franz Ferdinand, the Strokes, or even America's take on it all, The Killers.
     "Dance all day until you feel alright," screams Zylstra on "London Girl," his head thrown back for added reach.  Take their advice: you'll feel awesome.
- Sebastian Buzzalino
From Beatroute Magazine, November 2011

Less Conversation

Earlier this month Sweetheart released a new EP.

I still remember the rehearsal jam that sparked the new songs on this recording.  At that time in my life in early 2008 I was probably in the worst place I'd ever been.  I'll spare you the details but how I felt the day we first worked on the spark that was going to become our new album was deep into a pit of self loathing.  I'm not going to make any excuses for my choices or the way it panned out in those days but as we got through the song that eventually became Less Conversation, I could feel the band channelling what I was feeling.  They all had been or were going through something similar.  Things weren't great in our lives.  We still managed to laugh and to support each other.  That's what I really appreciate over the years of life in Sweetheart.  The amount of support we give each other.

These are some of my favourite lyrics I've ever written.  I can't take full credit because the other 3 guys in the band really steered the lyrics to where they finally stay.  Here's a sample:
I'm desperate/And dangerous/One last kiss/We won't forget/This love we had/Why won't you take me/For me?
We'll make less conversation/put to death our good intentions/I wrote every book you ever read/I'm violence in your head/blood eyes cannot deceive me/why can't you make this easy/this conversation keeps repeating everything you ever said you ever said you ever said you ever
You never listened to my story/a warning/you never given me the glory/a warning/me for me

go check it out for yourself here

Although those times are over and the journey has led me here down this path, this song sticks with me.  It represents a picture of the memory of where I've been.  This song is not who I am.  But it is apart of me. Maybe who I once was. 

Deep thoughts.

love,
Marty
@martyzylstra

Old Posters

I was looking through some old emails and came across some old Sweetheart posters.  Take a look!

We are all connected

In 2004 I was sitting at home jamming alone and I came up with an extremely simple lyric idea that was a little too cute "Extra Extra I tried to Text ya"

I then got really into it and as the lyrics developed I really liked the idea.  I took it to the band (Sweetheart - Click here for more info) and as we jammed out the ideas, it turned into a really cool vibe and eventually a pretty fun song.  I still remember jamming it out for the first time and some other band dudes who shared the rehearsal space were standing outside the door and came in the room to tell us that they really liked the idea.  Obviously taken as a grain of salt but when we finally recorded the song in 2006 and I heard the first mix, I was blown away at how huge the song sounded. 

As a songwriter, it's been amazing to see the journey of a song and to think about where it started and where it ended up.  It's almost like a child in a way.  From an initial guitar hook to a full band song, to a recording, to an album, to radio, to TV shows, to people's hands (CD, iPod) and then to the stage.

Because this was one of the first songs we ever wrote as a band, I will always think of it fondly.  Like a first born child. 

Today I decided to post the lyrics on our "bandcamp" site.  Re-reading these lyrics for the 100th time I realized how proud I still am of this song.

take a look:

We are all connected - Sweetheart

Extra Extra
I tried to text ya
But your phone was off
And I couldn’t getchya
We are disconnected
Now

Doctor Doctor
Can you stop the talking
Voices in my head
And shadows that are knocking
On my doorstep
Now

We are all Connected

Extra Extra
I tried to play catch up
With this modern life
Don’t let it get the best of me
Get out
Now

Brother’s Sister’s
Can you feel the future
The end is out to get you
Stay young while you can
Beauty is perfection
Now

We are all connected

I can’t
Stop this
She’s a
Rocket
You’re all
I know
I’ll go
Solo

We are all connected

listen here:

Show Review: Atomic Tom & Sweetheart

Last Friday I was excited.

Do you know that I play in this band: Click here
I think you did know and I think that it is old news to you.
If this isn't old news to you, you should just go download our album for free here.

ok.

A while ago, we were asked to play a show at the Media Club in Vancouver with Atomic Tom.
This show was last Friday.  As I said before I was excited for this show.  I was excited for a few reasons.
1) I love playing with bands from outside of the city.  You get a new perspective on what is happening outside Vancouver, and what is people are doing musically, and on stage.
2) The pre-sale for the show was strong.  I really enjoy playing to a good crowd on a Friday night.  I love it.  More then anything.
3) Home Ice Advantage.  The Media Club is like home to us.  I hang out there often and we play there often.  I know the stage and I know the sound and I know all the staff as friends. It's awesome.

So when we showed up for load-in/sound check AT was on stage working out their sound.  I could not believe it when they literally stopped what they were doing to meet us and introduce themselves.  Very unpretentious, very down to earth and very nice.  Keep in mind this band is from Brooklyn New York and they've just driven over 2000 kilometers to play one of only 2 dates in Canada.  I really appreciated this small gesture.  Their soundcheck was really great and the quality of the sound was very very good. 

So fast forward to the show.

As you may or may not know, Sweetheart tends to exude energy.  We play upbeat songs and we try to interact with the crowd as much as possible.  It was fun.  Robert played his first show on bass (of many I hope) with us and he was extremely solid.  His background vocals were perfect and his calm nature on stage was exactly what gave us that little edge and confidence.  All round it was a positive experience for me.

to the Headliner:
Two things about AT.  Number one:  they have zero radio play.  They had only a small amount of promotion for the show but a small club listing in the local entertainment magazine.  They did not do interviews for the show.  They did not do press.  Yet, the club was packed.  Clearly the local industry is out of touch. Another sign was that the crowd knew their songs. The show. I really liked their show.  This was their 5th show of a month of touring and they had a great presense and charisma.  There were quite a few songs that stood out and of course their single "Take me out" was great as was a cover of "Don't you want me baby" by the Human League (from the 80's). 

I'm almost positive you'll be hearing about this band again and you should go buy the single, "Take me out" on iTunes:
Click here

So once again thank you to Timbre for having us and to the Media Club and to Atomic Tom.

2011 is really shaping up to be a great year.

Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra

War Stories

Last night I had a great conversation with my friend and local musician Gord about bad tours.  He had some really horrible war stories about drama within the inner workings of bands and crazy things that have happened on the road to him.  It was great to hash out some of my tour history too and I got to thinking about how amazing all the tours I have experienced were.  When Sweetheart is on the road, it seems like we become closer and we have more fun as the tour draws on.  Then we come home and go our seperate ways and start to miss each other again.  That's what being in a band is about.  I've heard that many bands want to kill each other by the end of a lengthy tour.  I usually want to stay out on the road forever and keep playing forever.  It's kinda exciting to think about the next few months for this reason.  Sweetheart is getting things rolling again, and people seem to be really enjoying all the new demos I put up.  I'm also planning on bringing this project to the stage in the short term.  I hope you can come down and see what I cook up.  It's going to be fun to play these songs I truly love again with the people I love to play with. 

See you there?

Listen to a new Sweetheart demo b-side here called "Blood":
www.myspace.com/iheartsweetheart

Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra