My My My

This is downright muscular pop music: driven, delirious and out for a goddamn good time. - New City

"Bleeding” is a synth driven track with an extremely catchy hook and chorus that will have listeners singing along in no time. - WordKrapht

"...they've just put out a single called "Starting to Change." The track is one of their strongest so far, showcasing the interplay between co-singers Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow, with their impassioned vocals riding on top of a swirling melody that builds throughout before reaching cathartic completion." - Frank Krolicki - Windy City Rock

"...they've just put out a single called "Starting to Change." The track is one of their strongest so far, showcasing the interplay between co-singers Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow, with their impassioned vocals riding on top of a swirling melody that builds throughout before reaching cathartic completion." - Frank Krolicki - Windy City Rock

Some of the Rock/Pop mixtures out in the world make my ears bleed. It’s true. Thankfully, this is not one of those examples. My My My is definitely a new rock group. It’s just one that makes good music. - Powder My Noise

"Their set was energetic from the get-go, with the crowd being slightly larger and notably more enthusiastic with a strong contingent clearly there to do nothing but dance to My My My. And who could blame them? The band churned out danceable pop like it was, well, their job. The songs had keys sparkling, choruses rolling and the male and female singers trading firing lines off at each other with obvious charisma." - On Warmer Music

Now I'm late to the party announcing their new EP, "Wishing You Whatever's Best"...but it's become a well-worn thumb-punch on my iPod this summer. - Sun Times Blog

Chicago band My My My plays at Schubas Tavern tonight. The band's EP Wishing You Whatever's Best has been one of our go-to workday listens since it came out in July. They put together catchy, upbeat melodies and lyrics that border on acerbic. The duo of singers, Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow, dance the line between pop and rock. - Chicagoist

One of Chicago's most consistently fun bands returns with more slightly off-kilter singalongs, this time with a dancier, synthier touch. - Windy City Rock

The Chicago indie rock band (featuring two Ohio natives) is coming back to town, and you are going to love the pep and energy. It recently released an EP, “Wishing You Whatever’s Best,” and singer Sarah Snow illustrated the cover (she’s one of the Ohio natives). The band is no stranger to being in the limelight, with performances at the Sundance Film Festival, Taste of Chicago, MidPoint Music Festival, and songs featured on “The Real World,” “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and “Bad Girls Club.” Cincinnati’s pop rock favorites, The Tigerlilies are also playing. - Cincinnati.com

We released an all-illustrated video for our single Hard Kisses! - The Deli

How many times does Craigslist deliver a happy ending? For Russell Baylin, the Web site with everything issued the singer/guitarist four like-minded musicians.

Despite forming only last spring, My My My congealed quickly and transformed Baylin’s singular vision into a full-fledged collaborative effort on the band’s latest self-released project, Conjugation Nation. XRT’s Richard Milne is already a fan, showcasing the group’s bouncy single, “Chemistry Is For Lovers,” on his “Local Anesthetic” program last summer.
The album’s eight tracks follow the single’s pattern — incorporating fist-pumping, foot-tapping, piano-driven pop into a swirl of chirping vocals from Baylin and Sarah Snow. The boy/girl dichotomy adds depth to the proceedings, especially on “Stallion” — a whopper of a song. The rhythm section of drummer Bill Skafish and bassist John Roper projects a chill, easy-going flair while cementing their position as the band’s backbone on songs such as “Sit Back (Hey)” and the infectious title track. Theo Blair’s keyboards spice up the soulful “If I Was A Beggar,” and add emotive flourishes to “Sadder At The Seams.” Baylin’s vocals hold it all together and it’s easy to pinpoint his influences, most notably Jeff Buckley. Baylin doesn’t kid himself that he can reach the ceiling of Buckley’s range, but gets the passion right.
- Illinois Entertainer

Singer/songwriter Russell Baylin croons heartfelt melodies but really shines when backed by the soulful vocals of Sarah Snow. Pop music is easy to pigeonhole as cheesy lyrics set against a ridiculously catchy beat, but My My My proves that pop can be witty, heartfelt, light and fun and still be taken seriously. Sure, their song titles range from "So, You Like Italo-Disco" to "A Blind Salamander Came to Town and Trapped his Way Into Their Hearts," but they are sophisticated songs with rich harmonies and folksy, blues-y undertones. Pop music for the reluctant pop-lover, perhaps?
-Aylin Zafar - URB Magazine Next 1000

Singer/songwriter Russell Baylin croons heartfelt melodies but really shines when backed by the soulful vocals of Sarah Snow. Pop music is easy to pigeonhole as cheesy lyrics set against a ridiculously catchy beat, but My My My proves that pop can be witty, heartfelt, light and fun and still be taken seriously. Sure, their song titles range from "So, You Like Italo-Disco" to "A Blind Salamander Came to Town and Trapped his Way Into Their Hearts," but they are sophisticated songs with rich harmonies and folksy, blues-y undertones. Pop music for the reluctant pop-lover, perhaps?
-Aylin Zafar - URB Magazine Next 1000

With infectiously lush, wide-screen arrangements that prominently feature tingling vocal interplay between Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow, My My My turns out gorgeously winsome pop confections. Every winding turn through its convoluted arrangements reveals memorable pop magic.-Patrick Conlan - Illinois Entertainer

With infectiously lush, wide-screen arrangements that prominently feature tingling vocal interplay between Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow, My My My turns out gorgeously winsome pop confections. Every winding turn through its convoluted arrangements reveals memorable pop magic.-Patrick Conlan - Illinois Entertainer

CD of the Month (April):
The latest album from My My My, Leather Silk, looks and reads like an under produced classic porn movie from the ‘80’s. It’s complete with cheesy actors named “Big Baddy Cosgrove”, “Captain Sage Bronson”, “Silky”, “Terrycloth Jones”, and so on. However, when you put the album it is a completely different experience. This is power pop at its finest. Filled with finely tuned electronics, sweeping guitar riffs, and dueling vocals provided by Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow. I would compare their current sound to that of Headlights, especially when Snow is taking the lead.

There is not a lull in this album, which means you will never stop moving. The centerpiece of this ten-track album is the song “Swoon”, and in a way it sums up the album. The looping electronic open leading to a gritty guitar riff and atmospheric keyboards, but it is the interplay of Baylin and Snow that will make you “Swoon”. My My My have far surpassed their 2008 effort, Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave, and Leather Silk should make them one of the more sought after Chicago bands of 2010.
- The Deli Magazine

There's something about a record with a kitten playing a toy piano on the cover that makes you want to like it.

Fortunately, the music on local band My My My's latest record, "Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave," is as likable as the album art. Although the band has only been in existence since 2007, "Little Cat" is their third effort, preceded by "Theme Songs for Your Melancholy" and "Conjugation Nation."

The band has been lauded as Chicago's version of the New Pornographers, and that's an appropriate description. Like the Canadian mainstays of thinking man's pop, My My My is full of charm with boy-girl vocals, strange song titles and strong, unpredictable-yet-catchy melodies.

The driving force behind My My My is singer-songwriter Russell Baylin, who delivers rocking cuts such as opener "So, You Like Italo-Disco" and "Best Laid Plans" with gusto. The songs are made even better with the complementary sweet vocals of Sarah Snow, who brings another highlight to the disc in the acoustic, chilled out "Boom Boom," which allows her a genuine Neko Case moment.

Other notable tracks include "Palisades," featuring a cool sped up chorus out of nowhere that sort of reminds me of fellow Chicago band Skybox, the bizarrely captivating "A Blind Salamander Came to Town and Tapped His Way Into Their Hearts" and the melodic, upbeat closer "Aztec vs. Building." There's even a brief, strangely addictive eponymous track, in which the little cat does just what the title says.

"Little Cat" is a fully-realized, confident record that plays like the work of a band with not only strong musical talent and intelligence, but also a sense of humor - something all too rare in indie music today. The record takes a few spins to really stick, but once it worms its way into your mind you'll find a consistently enjoyable and satisfying collection of quirky, smart pop tunes with long-term appeal.
- by Frank Krolicki, Chicago Rock Music Examiner

Who doesn't loves kittens and toy piano's? Well it is clear that singer/songwriter Russell Baylin is a fan, and as his latest band My My My prepares to release their first album, Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave, you can't help but smile at that cute little kitten. My My My claims to be suitable for fans of the supergroup New Pornographers, and that is not completely off target, but there are clearly a few more influences in Baylin's sound. His voice has a depth and clarity that is very distinctive and enjoyable, and when mixed with the beautiful harmonies of Sarah Snow the results are magnetic. A perfect example of this can be found on bouncy duet "Middle Age Hardware and Youthful Indiscretions", which has me spinning in circles and jumping up and down. Where the rhythms generally stay up beat, the mood of the album shifts between light and dark, but it can all be shiny kittens and toy pianos. Ultimately, Baylin is one of the strongest unsigned singer/songwriters that I have heard in quite sometime, and Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave is an album worth checking out. - Jason Behrends, Gapers Block

Anyone who has had to fight through numerous failures knows they just make the successes that much sweeter. Russell Baylin is one of those people.

Maybe that's why the My My My frontman just can't seem to contain his excitement about the state of his band.

"My career has been very frustrating," he explains. "It's hard to find the right people, hard to find the great material and [hard] to find an audience. But with this group, it's like the years of frustration have melted away."
My My My is unique in that it has been pieced together through numerous Craigslist ads, one band member jumping aboard at a time. And while you'd think this type of process would breed myriad awkward situations, Baylin says nothing could be further from the truth.


We gelled immediately," he says. "It was like love at first sight. We all have the same musical sensibilities and we approach the craft in the same way. We're like a well-oiled machine."

That machine is fueled by rich interplay between the voices of Baylin and Sarah Snow, along with driving pop-rock rhythms dripping in Midwestern sensibility. My My My has drawn comparisons to the much-loved New Pornographers -- high, but certainly deserved, praise.

"We only have one guitar, whereas most groups have two," Baylin says. "And because I sing, most of my guitar work is rhythm, which leaves lots of room for the bass and keyboards to go outside their traditional roles. They're going beyond the norm and expanding the limits and boundaries of each song."

All of the exploration is done within the confines of a tried-and-true formula of pop-based rock.

"Avant-garde doesn't come naturally to us," Baylin explains. "We all like pop, so we try to keep it melodic and accessible without being too predictable."

It's odd to hear Baylin use the word "predictable" when he stresses over and over how amazing it has been to find like-minded people -- bereft of egos -- to churn out songs with. In fact, his wife had to convince him to try the Craigslist route one more time. Suffice to say, he's been pleasantly surprised.

He had been writing songs on his acoustic guitar but believed they deserved a full band behind them to flush out the sound. And with each successful addition to the band, My My My's sound took on a fuller, more well-rounded tenor. According to Baylin, the collaborative process works so well because each member sticks strictly to the script.

"They kind of all look to me to direct, to take charge of the direction and they put their egos aside," he says. "I'll come with a skeleton of a song and they'll fill it in with what they do.

My My My has hit the pavement running, already releasing two albums in less than two years and itching to get in the studio for a third.

"It's been great," Baylin admits. "I try not to think about it too much, and even if it ends tomorrow, I've been lucky. - Chicago Sun-Times

Power pop never goes away,
especially here in the Midwest,
where big chords and bigger
melodies continue to infl uence
our indie, punk and emo acts.
It’s certainly felt in My My My, a
well-oiled quintet not even two
years old but already on release
number three. Th e group incorporates
modern touches via
occasional electronics, but their
New Pornographers-ish indie
pop exists for gleaming hooks
and cozy boy/girl harmonies
courtesy of singers Russell Baylin
and Sarah Snow.
Highlights include the buoyant
energy of opener “So, You Like
Italo-Disco,” the powerful guitar
pop of “Middle Age Hardware
and Youthful Indiscretions” and
“Best Laid Plans,” and the moderately
paced charms of “Palisades”
and “Turn Your Bright
Ideas Into Action.”
My My My’s acumen
for upbeat songcraft cannot be
disputed.
- Jeff Pizek, Daily Herald

My My My is one Chicago band whose name has been buzzing among the scene as of late. Last week alone, the indie-pop group appeared in both the Sun Times and the Red Eye, as well as on WGN’s ‘Rock Out Your Lunch’ segment. To top off their buzz-worthy week, My My My played the Bottom Lounge alongside fellow local acts.

My My My’s repertoire is a collection of feel-good pop songs, with charming vocal interplay between singers Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow. The songs are decorated with keys, sounds of synthesizers and drum machines, modernizing their sound and donning them straight-up rock-pop. The five-piece band has strength in numbers - its primary strength being the singers’ prominent vocal exchange, their bouncy harmonies providing the bulk of the band’s onstage aura.

The evening’s standout song was easily “Middle Age Hardware”, a catchy tune with a catchier chorus. The duet begins with a well-crafted beat on the drum machine, followed by a harmonious chorus, a singsong melody and a strong piano part. “So You Like Italo-Disco” displayed Snow’s vocal ability, as she proved her wide vocal range and provided the ideal accompaniment to Baylin’s voice. The band mostly played songs from its new album, Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave, like the autobiographical “Aztec vs. Building” that Baylin describes as “a war between a warrior and a building.” (With a title like that, who would guess that he went on to describe the song as autobiographical?) “Aztec vs. Building” featured a catchy backbeat during the chorus, thanks to Snow’s percussion skills.

Listen to My My My at their My My Myspace and be sure to check out their next live set, for some no-nonsense pop rock.

- Cheeky Chicago; Neph Basedow

As usual, My My My were lots of fun to watch. They play quirky power pop that's given a unique stamp by song structures with adventurous twists and turns, as heard on their excellent new LP, Leather Silk (review here). Their set mainly included songs from this album, including highlights such as the bouncy, keyboard-driven "White Lions," the driving shout-along "Be My Bianca" and the sleek, dancey "Swoon." In addition to material from Leather Silk, the band played the frenetic "Middle Aged Hardware and Youthful Indiscretions" from their last LP, Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave, as well as a wonderful brand new song called "War Party." Vocalists Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow never fail to impress with the passionate deliveries, and the entire band sounded perfectly tight. Simply put, My My My rocked, and I sure hope those in the crowd who were unfamiliar with them will look them up. - Examiner

The last record from Chicago's My My My, 2008’s Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave, was strong enough to earn the band plenty of praise - including a spot on our best up-and-coming Chicago bands list for that year. Little Cat was a solid introduction, but the no-filler indie pop excellence of their new LP, Leather Silk, ups the game in a major way.

What's most refreshing about Leather Silk is that the songwriting is consistently strong and fully-realized, something bands rarely pull off in LP form these days. All 10 tracks are memorable and pop-minded, but have adventurous song structures and clever twists and turns that keep things from ever getting dull or overly repetitive. “Be My Bianca,” for instance, changes direction midway with a sudden, rocking rave-up and a shout-along chant. “Swoon” opens with a slick electro loop, builds a moody dance rock sound, and then introduces a killer chorus. “Loudest Summer” pairs upbeat, infectious music and and hooks with world-weary lyrics (“After a while the ‘whys’ get bigger than you thought, they get bigger than the ‘why nots’") for top-notch power pop.

The bulk of the songwriting was done by My My My’s initiator and driving force, Russell Baylin, who shares vocal duties with bandmate Sarah Snow. It’s hard to believe these two came together through Craigslist (Baylin assembled the band by putting out a series of ads on the site) because their voices sound too good together to have been paired so randomly. Both have passionate rock and roll pipes that bring the material to life and play a major part in the group's distinct sound. Snow’s contributions are more prominent and powerful here than they were on Little Cat, as she takes lead vocals on a few cuts. She’s particularly impressive on “White Lions,” an album highlight that finds her belting out quirky lyrics such as “In your skinny jeans, you’re a thrift store Martin Sheen” over a rollicking, new wave-inspired backdrop.

Everything works on Leather Silk. The entire band is in top form. The production is crisp and bright, bringing out all the nuances of the material. Electronic flourishes add character in all the right places, and all elements are perfectly mixed. Basically, this rocks and deserves a huge audience. My my my, indeed.
- Examiner