Charlie Van Stee Trio | The Worst Things Were Also the Best Things
The soon-to-be-released debut album by the Charlie Van Stee Trio, The Worst Things Were Also the Best Things, is, quite simply, brilliant. The album has a White Stripes edge to it while also providing a subtle niceness that is reminiscent of Elliot Smith.
The album starts out with a beautiful pop song, “Only Here on the Outside”, which asks more questions than it answers, yet for some reason left me feeling like all the mysteries of the universe had been solved. Weird, I know. Just listen to it and you’ll know what I mean. 
Here is a snippet from the song:
Are you making this all up in your head?
Are you trapped down in the well of the end?
Are you sick? Are you tired? Are you swilled? Are you wired?
Get your head straight…I’m only here on the outside.
I’m going to try my best to know.
You believe in something real, but I don’t really know what that means…
This band has been around for years, and the delay in releasing their first album is a testament to the busy gigging schedules of the members of the band, which consists of Living Spoon basist, Nathan Eliot, and Free Grandma drummer, Josh Kaplan.
While The Worst Things Were Also the Best Things is a great listen from front to back, a couple of tracks stand out as something more-than-special. I already mentioned “Only Here on the Outside”, but my favorite track is “On the Rise Again”, a song that will speak to any musician who feels the pressures of having a girlfriend or family while trying to continue the dream of playing music. Mr. Van Stee sings:
When I’m at home I’m on the rise again.
Writing everything I see inside my head…When I’m on the street on I’m the rise again.
Got some people to meet; got the flyers in my hand.
I think I love this band; It’s everything I have…This will surely make me.
I want you to love this as much as I…When I’m awake I’m on the rise again.
Don’t sleep too late; get up before ten.
Be like other men; raise a family then.
With beautiful melodies and mature lyrics, this record is definitely one of the stand-out albums of 2007. Check out the band at their upcoming shows:
Aug 30 2007, 9:00PM Lee’s Liquor Lounge - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sep 28 2007, 8:00PM The Acadia Cafe - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Oct 5 2007, 8:00PM The Nomad World Pub - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Leave a Reply