Viva Voce - Get Yr Blood Sucked Out

If you happened to catch the Late Show with David Letterman recently, you might recall seeing indie favorites The Shins supporting their latest. Also, if you weren’t too groggy at that time, you might also recall a lady supporting The Shins, vocally, and sporting a bit of what might be described as maroon. That lady, or miss, or whatever it is proper to refer to young women as, is Anita Robinson, singer and guitarist representing fifty percent of the outfit Viva Voce (pronounced Vee-vah-VOH-chay, thank you informative band Web site). The remaining half is husband Kevin Robinson showcasing his talents on the drums and singing as well. Together, the couple fulfills the ultimate fantasy and perhaps trend, marriage to music and the person you make it with. So perhaps it’s not an ultimate fantasy- one can only guess the intertwining joys and strains that come with the arrangement, but being able to channel your energies as a couple into your music- really good music- seems pretty damn cool. Indeed, the third album from Viva Voce, the vampirically titled Get Yr Blood Sucked Out, is a fine thing to listen to. Goth it is not. Dark, yes, at times. It is home-cooked meal of fetching melodies, choruses and bits of psychedelia. Simple, sometimes repetitive lyrics are one of its strengths and weaknesses. If you do enjoy The Shins it is well worth your time to check out Viva Voce- hell, they should be on tour together soon. Now that’s serendipity. [www.vivavoce.com]