Young And Sexy's Mutual Appreciation Society

So how does the old adage go? Any press is good press?

Vancouver's Young And Sexy know how to take the good with the bad when it comes to reviews of their latest record, the immaculately crafted pop affair, Panic When You Find It.

"We try not to read our reviews," says vocalist Lucy Brain. "I was a little daunted this time around because we have a new lineup on this record and I thought people would feel compelled to compare it to previous lineups."

"It's funny because a review is just one person's opinion," offers vocalist/guitarist Paul Pittman. "I think there's about four or five really not nice reviews about the new album, which I think is kinda cool."

"Yeah, almost scathing," adds guitarist Andre Legace. "Some days I care, some days I don't care about the reviews."

It's hard to imagine any ill words being spoken about Panic, as its tender, fey pop songs fall nicely into place in a lineage that already includes bands like The Zombies, The Left Banke and Belle And Sebastian.

"There was one line in one review that was like, 'It's almost so upsetting that they could have so many good ideas but still be so inherently boring,'" says Pittman. "Which I thought was such a good line.

"What a good cut. So whatever, he's just not into it. Whereas another person was like, 'If they just didn't have that one poppy song, it would have been the perfect sleepy record... they ruined it for me by putting in that one poppy song.'"

This, of course, won't change in the near future, as Young And Sexy are about as pop as it gets. Pittman, the main songwriter, is learned in the school of Brian Wilson and meticulously agonizes and works on minute details of a song.

"Usually what I'll do is put a vocal take down, listen to it, hate it, do some other takes, come back to the original and think it's way better than the newer ones, but still hate it, then try double-tracking it and hating it still," says Pittman.

"And a couple of songs where he'll just look at me and say, 'You sing it,'" muses Brain.

"Oh yeah, on the last record there were two songs I was supposed to sing lead on that I couldn't stand how my voice sounded on them so I got Lucy to sing them instead," says Pittman. "I was really hating my voice on the last record.

"I just don't think I've found my voice yet. I feel like I'm still searching for it. I think I listen to too much Beatles, so I either go between a country twang or a little too much of an accent. But I haven't found a simple Paul Pittman voice. I dunno, does that make sense?"

"Yeah," answers Brain, before anyone else can say anything in response. "I think you sound good."

"Well thanks, Lucy, you do, too," Pittman over-politely replies with a smirk on his face. "But I'm feeling better about it now."

Pittman has the support of his peers. That's far better than wishy-washy reviews any day.