In the ’90s, most indie rockers were white males who cultivated a cool, detached image. New York-based Versus stood out from its contemporaries for many reasons. Its lineup included two (and sometimes three) Filipino-American brothers, it had a female bassist/singer, and the band gleefully professed its love for sports, meat and classic rock. After several albums and lineup changes continuing through 2001, the group went on a recording hiatus, only occasionally performing live. However, a reinvigorated Versus returned two years ago, and the band has just released On The Ones And Threes (Merge), its first full-length in a decade. Now consisting of singer/guitarist Richard Baluyut, drummer Edward Baluyut, bassist/singer Fontaine Toups, plus live violinist/keyboardist Margaret White, Versus picks up where it left off sonically: hypnotic melodies, male/female vocals and the occasional heavy guitar squall. The band members will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with them.
Edward: Have you ever really wanted to like French new-wave films, but just couldn’t get through them? If you like the idea of experimental films but find them unwatchable, try Claude Chabrol‘s. I consumed almost every one of his many movies in a span of 10 days. Start with Que La Bête Meure (“This Man Must Die”) and Le Boucher (“The Butcher”). It’s all in good, but twisted, fun.
Video after the jump.
