The Pelican’s Perch

Siberian – With Me

Posted by Kevin
October 25, 2007

Doing a complete 180 here compared to Jumpel, I bring you Siberian. Now, I seem to be way behind when it comes to raving about their debut album With Me, but I was recently sent their promo after chatting with the band on myspace and was excited as ever to hear the whole thing finally. Did it impress? You bet it did.

From various reviews I’ve read up to this point, it seems Siberian have been around for about three years and made a name for themselves in Seattle based on the strength of an early four track demo, then their official six track demo that got them talked about by KEXP and ultimately signed to Sonic Boom Recordings. They were booked to Bumbershoot in Seattle before they even had a debut release to flaunt around and have been sailing ever since.

Comparisons are aplenty with Siberian, with The Stills being the most noticeable one. Siberian are ready to play arenas already if With Me is any indication. Songs like “Belgian Beer and Catholic Girls” support this arena rock claim with their grand, room filling guitars and sweeping vocals. This opening song is mainly where my Stills comparison comes from, but other bands can be heard from the occasional singing style of Thom Yorke, the chugging brit-pop guitars and singing of Interpol, to the soaring instrumental sections of Explosions in the Sky or Godspeed. With Me is really an album for anyone that likes their rock grand and beautiful.

Stand-out songs include the opening song “Belgian Beer and Catholic Girls”, the excellent Interpol meets Thom Yorke “Wolf and Crane”, the vaguely Deadly Syndrome sounding “Futuristic Kids”, and the Godspeed/Explosions in the Sky ending to “O Orien”.

With Me was released last Tuesday, October 23rd on Sonic Boom Recordings.