(SELF-RELEASED; 2013)
The Passion are from Columbia, MO. Their music is from all over. They have a kind of Joy Division meets the Smiths meets Echo and the Bunnymen sound, with guitarist Chris Dohm evoking (invoking?) memories of Will Sergeant and Johnny Marr and their slashing, percussive style of playing. There’s even a little hint of very early David Evans (you may know him better as the Edge from U2). Singer Larry Krapf could (and maybe does!) front a Smiths tribute band (for some reason, these bands insist on calling themselves “tribute bands” instead of cover bands which, in fact, they are… they just cover songs by one band… but I digress) as he has a definite Steve Morrissey sound, only with less whining.
“Carved In Sand” starts things off nicely, with a very Joy Division sounding tune. I suppose if you squint your eyes and hold your head just right while listening to ALL MY YESTERDAYS, you can hear a bit of Ian Curtis in Krapf’s voice, as well. Now, all of these comparisons may have you thinking, “You know, I already have all of the Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen albums I need and I can’t stand the Smiths because of Morrissey’s whiny voice and hissy fit lyrics, so why do I need this record by the Passion?” A valid point, I assume (except for the Morrissey thing,,, that’s just me), if this band didn’t have more to offer. Making comparisons is kinda what I have to do so you’ll have a musical reference to see if a particular band’s music falls somewhere in your listening wheelhouse. That doesn’t mean that the Passion are a carbon copy of any of the band’s mentioned. In fact, dip down a few songs, to track 7, and you’ll find a very goth sounding tune called “Everybody Wants,” with Melissa Robertson’s synth out front more than any other song here.
Robertson’s playing is understated and her parts are well thought out and add just the right texture. Her voice is also well used, not all over the place but appearing when (and where) it’s needed. The rhythm section of Andy Gibbs on bass (he left shortly after this album was recorded, replaced by Shannon Morris) and Sean Erickson on drums are solid, with Erickson exhibiting a more adventurous side on several of the tracks. The title track (“All My Yesterdays,” in case you’ve forgotten) has a little bit of everything: great vocals from Krapf, gang vocals on the chorus, a driving rhythm propelling things forward at nearly breakneck speed, a punchy synthesizer part and a trashy garage-like solo from Dohm.
Overall, I can find very little negative to say about the Passion’s ALL MY YESTERDAYS. It definitely brings back memories of some really great late ’70s/early ’80s bands; it also breaks some new ground production-wise, giving Larry Krapf’s voice a more meaty sound than Morrissey ever dreamed of and a certain bright sheen on Chris Dohm’s guitar. If you’re still thinking, “So why do I need this record by the Passion?,” how about this: you can pick up a digital copy on the band’s Bandcamp page (that would be thepassionband.bandcamp.com) for a “name your own price” download fee. Listen to “Carved In Sand,” “I Won’t Be Another Story,” “Everybody Wants” and the title song and I can virtually guarantee that you’ll be hitting that download button!