‘Swaying’ quality

What do SSLYBY and the actual Boris Yeltsin have in common?

Their fan bases were both dwindling by the end of their careers.

SSLYBY’s third release, “Let It Sway” tests the patience of its listeners, much like making Russian historical puns amongst an audience of American power-pop fans. Though the band is often original, it is working within a genre of music where everything seems to already have been said.

Similar to an essay, an album needs to open with an attention grabber to capture potential listeners and assure further grandeur and wit. Unfortunately, the magnetism of the first few catchy songs doesn’t stick throughout the rest of the collection.

This third album maps the tendency of SSLYBY to release works containing only a few significant tracks surrounded by filler. Debut album “Broom” had the songs “House Fire” and “Oregon Girl” to veil the remaining eight tracks of monotony, while the sophomore studio release “Pershing” showcased the hit “Modern Mystery” atop a tall stage of scrap wood.

“Let it Sway” sticks with the trend, making it an album worth hearing, just not all the way through.