Kansas City’s Shy Boys make a uniquely crunchy type of surf pop, blending Beach Boys with Belle & Sebastian to make something that’s surely never come out of the Midwest before. That’s likely why they caught the ear of Kevin Morby, who wrote the band’s Bandcamp bio for their new album Bell House. In it, he proclaims, “There is something sensitive to the touch about this album, which is perhaps another way of saying that, well - Shy Boys are indeed Shy Boys. I envision the band as a solid unit, with each moving part as an equal. There is a heavy sense of family in everything they do both, literally and figuratively.” Bell House was released early this month on Polyvinyl and is the band’s second album, following 2014’s self-titled. It came to be after lead songwriter Collin Rausch left the house they all lived in for five years, called Bell House and self-described as a “bum den,” to move into his mom’s house with his new wife. That’s where today’s Song of the Day, “Basement,” comes from. A pretty literal description of his experience living in a basement with his wife and dog at his mom’s house, the song conjures up the strange feelings of returning home as an adult. Below, watch the video for "Evil Sin," directed by Alec Nicholas and band member Kyle Little.
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Host Emily Fox and KEXP’s editorial team talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.
