April 23–30, 1998
critic pick|rock/pop
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As a founding member of one of the more enduring acts of the indie rock revolution, Fontaine Toups, Versus' bassist/vocalist, is pretty low-key about the band's legacy.
"We just got lucky," says Toups on the phone from her Brooklyn apartment.
But after seven years of being lucky, Versus' sound—a blend of chunky guitar noise and solace, Toups' and guitarist Richard Baluyut's dueling lyrics and more surface tension than Saran Wrap - is oft imitated but never duplicated. To boot, the band is on the verge of releasing its strongest album to date, Two Cents Plus Tax (Caroline).
Not that the band has ever seemed stable. Its history is almost defined by lineup shifts and breakup rumors. "We start them," jokes Toups. She adds that, contrary to several other rumors, she and co-founder Baluyut have a love/hate relationship, but, in fact, never dated. (All about candor, she also reveals that Fontaine is not her given name: "I just picked it up somewhere when I was really young and confused.")
The album title, Two Cents Plus Tax, is a nonsense phrase that "just popped into my head," says Baluyut, who's all dry wit and obliquities, on the phone from his Manhattan apartment. It's 10 tracks of beautifully executed mood and tempo swings.
On the lovelorn "Never Be O.K.," Toups is so convincingly distraught, tears start to well up. Baluyut's penchant for history rock also shows up in the Cold War ode "Atomic Kid."
"I guess this record was kinda more fun," explains Baluyut. "We spent money on recording this time. Before, we didn't really have a budget. This one actually sounds like I wanted it to."
On the band's free show this week: "It's springtime so we just wanted it to be a little more festive," says Baluyut. "Philly is just like New York. I feel comfortable in a city where you can't leave a cigarette on the dash of your car without some one breaking into it. And I love Pat's Steaks." At least someone appreciates our finer points.
Versus, Mon., April 27, 5 p.m., Pontiac Grille, 304 South St., 925-4053, free.
