Last night on the way to a show in Cincinnati, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir was in a terrible van accident. A blown tire sent the vehicle rolling down the highway. Our thoughts go out to the band, who earlier this month released their third LP, …And The Horse You Rode In On, on Bloodshot Records.

Their gear and van were destroyed. Ethan, Jay and Allison were released last night, but Elia, Mary and Mark remain in the hospital. As most musicians, SYGC included, have limited incomes and no health insurance, Bloodshot has created a page on their website for donations (to help cover medical costs and the acquisition of new gear) and will be providing up-to-the-minute updates on the band and their conditions.

Visit the Bloodshot Records news article for more information.

The third installment of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir in long-play form finds the band adding production, lessening the electric punk sounds, but maintaining much of those sensibilities. It’s pop, and it’s orchestrated, and it’s absolutely indie, but even when the punk-style guitars are absent, punk is nevertheless present.

“Stop” truly opens the album with an ode to the cliché break-up song; what a way to begin an album, using lyrics like I hope you catch Syphilis and die alone / No don’t call me because I won’t answer! “One Night Stand” finds Elia dropping his voice for a selectively Leonard Cohen-esque appeal before jumping back into the throaty renditions common throughout …And The Horse You Rode In On. “Hope Is Still On Your Side” and “Praying Is A Heartache” are both filled with emotive beauty, yet are drastically different in make-up.

This is an album that’s appealing in all its honesty, yet packs a fair share of good ol’ punchy rock ‘n roll. These are songs you could live by, fall in love to, and play while drinking yourself into a stupor. Where their early stuff was reminiscent of, say, Belle & Sebastian, the new songs find Scotland Yard Gospel Choir coming into their own. Their original influences remain, but their sound has progressed beyond personalized mimicry.

There was greatness early on that drew many in — myself included. Their debut in I Bet You Say That To All The Boys was a genius release in its own right, and the self-titled sophomore release was an obvious stepping stone along the way, but …And The Horse is the true coming-of-age for the group. They have shed whatever insecurities they may have had and gained the confidence to truly create something both brutal and brilliant.

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir: Stop [mp3]

Bloodshot Records [CD, 2009]

1. You Go Together
2. Stop
3. One Night Stand
4. Something’s Happening
5. I Pretend She’s You
6. Hope Is Still On Your Side
7. Libertyville Or Somewhere
8. Sixteen Is Too Young
9. Praying Is A Heartache
10. Save Your Breath
11. Castles Of Wales
12. Ogilvie Station
13. …And The Horse You Rode In On
14. Tear Down The Opera House
15. Well I Wouldn’t

History lesson: Scotland Yard Gospel Choir‘s “Tear Down The Opera House”, off their upcoming junior LP …And The Horse You Rode In On, is not a brand new tune. In fact, it was a prominent force on their debut release, I Bet You Say That To All The Boys. For their forthcoming album, SYGC reworks the track, negating much of the rough, lo-fi elements of the original and quickening the pace.

The troupe even goes so far as to toss in multiple vocals during the chorus and drops in a little guitar solo where before any solo (if one was present) was drowned out by the excessive percussion and guitars. The melodies are the same — the lyrics as well. Despite the quicker tempo, this new version has added length, which stems from the extended bridge and subsequent return to the chorus before concluding. The original lacked that return.

Back to back, it’s easy to hear why Scotland Yard Gospel Choir made the change. The original wasn’t bad; it was just average in comparison. Why hone in on all these elements? Well, it adequately demonstrates the bands progression over the years. Throughout their songwriting, they’ve moved away from that gritty, raw, lo-fi sound and replaced it with a cleaner punk-influenced jangle-style of pop.

SYGC’s new album comes out September 15 on Bloodshot Records.

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir: Tear Down The Opera House [mp3]