The Submissives - Do You Really Love Me?

Do You Really Love Me? is the latest release by Montreal's The Submissives, a project led by bedroom producer Deb Edison, who writes and produces these love yearning songs. The album has a DIY sensibility and aesthetic; a Sunday bedroom rock at work. The album strolls through a collection of 15 songs inspired by early rock 'n' roll, elements of surf and garage rock with themes dedicated to relationships, hopeless romantics, and heartbreak, but mostly just heartbreak.

Do You Really Love Me? resides in a pocket that exudes a lethargic attitude, and when contrasted with its subject matter offers us either an interesting take on it or a fascinating subversion of it, or its subjects. Adding to this feeling is the seemingly detuned sounds of the instruments, the slow delivery of the lyrics, the overdubbed vocal tracks that seem very slightly out of phase, and the impression that each song melts into the next. None of the 15 tracks is over three minutes, but the relatively short lengths of the songs do not make the album seem rushed at all. In fact, the pace of the album seems slow and deliberate.

Some album highlights include "Friend Named Betty", which I assume is the same Betty from The Submissives' previous release entitled Betty Told Me. A fun band narrative tied in from one album to another. "This Hum", which plods along. "Dream Life", the shortest track coming in at just over one minute in length, is infectious and reminds me of an intense day dream. The rhythm guitar drives the track forward, while the lead throws down a slide full of sounds.

In all, the album is a saunter through the heart broken, a reminder of the sluggish feeling of longing.

--Fredy M. Iuni hosts Hiway 1, Mondays at 7:00 pm on CJLO.