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Third time is the charmer and so it is with "Thin" - here's what people are saying!
(In Chronological Order)
CD REVIEW: The Histrioniks - Thin
By Chip Withrow - 08/06/2008 - 09:47 AM EDT
Artist: Band: Histrioniks
Album: Thin
Website: http://www.the histrioniks.com
Genre: Alternative Rock
Technical Grade: 9/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 8/10
Performance Skill: 9/10
Best Songs: Shattered Youth, My Blue, Dead Again, Nervous Shakedown
CD Review: Just your usual surf/gypsy/punk/Latin/power pop reverb-drenched joyride – that’s what the Histrioniks take you on with Thin.
The duo of Larry Levy (guitar, percussion, chief songwriter) and bassist Dave Powers provide the sonic oomph, and Cat Levy provides sublimely angsty alto vocals. Think Velvet Underground/Lou Reed grit spiced with X's (or even the Go-Gos') early punky attitude.
“Drama Queen” is a unique, ethereal-yet-insistent opener. Cat’s layered vocals and Larry’s biting guitar are striking. The title cut that follows is a thrashing romp, and then comes a cool twist: the charming, ‘50s girl group-like, almost twangy “My Blue.”
“Shattered Youth” is a blast, almost a sing-along, in spite of (or maybe even due to) the desperate theme. “Dead Again” is powerful – crunchy flamenco guitar building into a big swooping chorus.
“Nervous Shakedown” is a massive shot of power chords, with more delightfully haunting vocals. The urgent “Out Of the In Crowd” is defiant, almost uplifting – and too short. And the biggest, boldest guitar salvo of all is the closing instrumental “Misery (Reprise).”
This is not cheery music – go back and re-read some of the song titles. But the Histrioniks’ Thin is rocking, and often anthemic and beautiful. It is a worthy follow-up to last year’s About This Girl.
THE HISTRIONIKS (Baltimore, Maryland, USA) "NERVOUS SHAKEDOWN". Larry, Cat and Dave have come up with a grittier, garagier album this time around. "THIN" has dense songs with striking guitar work, signature Cat vocals and exposed-nerve lyrics that-- in total-- remind me of pre-New Wave songs you might hear at CBGB's club circa 1977....Richard Filaccio (founder/artist The Pop League) July 22, 2008
The guitar pop of the Histrioniks have much in common with the Garage Rock Revival movement. Like a lot of other bands with echoing fuzz guitar leads and tambourine (like the Cynics and the Ugly Beats) they can be traced down to the late sixties. Now add to this mix the Lene Lovich-like vocals of Cat Levy. What comes out isn't as retro sounding as Outrageous Cherry, but the organic minimalist quality of the songs make good listening. Immediately you'll recognize this is great Beatnik pop music highlighted by the amazing "Too Black" with furiously pounding drums, monster guitar rhythms and Cat's spoken/sung lyrics about suffocating memories "too black to see in." The album is consistently good, "Shattered Youth" has elements of dance pop, and very much in the spirit of the B-52's (without all that shiny optimism). The mystical "Miss" enters a more goth place and lovers of Bauhaus will appreciate the mope rock lyrics of "Misery." The guitar work here is so compelling you get a reprise at the albums end. Well crafted, "Thin" is the epitome of music for a smokey dark room.
Aaron Kupferberg
July 16th, 2008
www.powerpopaholic.com
Oh
The thrill of the melodic Jagged.
This is a collection of wonderful contradictions. The shivering darkness within wrapped in the warmth of sunlight on a colourful ice-cream wrapper strewn boardwalk.
The Drama Queen struts cloaked in subtle distortion and reverb, an almost blur of smiles and sways, pop songs for the happily nervous.
Then the Title Track. A tale of self-destruction perhaps, inviting us to join in rather than look away. A nightmare that comforts as it dismays.
This is Blondie daring To be fragile.
Then the sunlight fades and in ‘Too Black’ we are taken into twisted fairy tale witch mood, naked memory, slinking obsession, the storm isn’t too far from breaking.
Musically there are hints of new wave flirting with punk fucking the darkest parts of acid folk.
Harmony and Discord, catchy as wicked grins.
Hold hands and join the circle of ‘Miss’ there is magic reflected, refracted, all is not what it seems.
Oh the Thrill.
Like the very best of The Throwing Muses, this is a box of breakdown and release, of the personal and the hidden, thrown together and POP-musically Bound.
Martin Smit
NextBigThing, July 2008
http://nextbigthing.libsyn.com/
We got your hungry, CD, the Histrioniks, Thin. Thanks for sending it! Great edgy, punk alt surf punk. Trio with a brit pop meets Ravonettes meets the Bangles raw, layered sound. Finally! Thin, the ultimate ode to bulimia anorexia. Brill stuff! This album would play beautifully on college radio...or commercial alt mix shows....
June Caldwell
Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion
July 2008
With great rhythms and vocal performances, this alternative rock band has what it takes to make it big. Similar to the Muse, The Histrioniks have mastered to create an album that has both a familiar but unique sound, making this album stand out of the crowd as it takes what we know to a new level.
Track 2: Thin This song sums up the rest of the album with its great melody and an exquisite vocal performance with lyrics that will really get you thinking.
Track 5 : Shattered Youth With upbeat rhythms and beats that will get stuck in your head for hours, this track complements the voice of Cat Levy
Track 12: Misery (Reprise) This song is jam packed with such musical perfection and with great emphasis on each instrument that truly compile a masterpiece
Reviewed by Jaclyn Ecker, Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion
July 2008
The Histrioniks new CD "Thin" is anything but! Thick and gooey it channels 60's surfer psychedelia manic pop rock with a slightly sinister edge that intertwines perfectly with Cat's decidedly dark lyrics. One listen will leave you wondering when the movie will be completed for this sublime soundtrack!
Annette Conlon
'Nette Radio
www.netteradio.com
June 2008
It sounds like a good indie album should sound:
edgy and original, with tons of character and vibe.
Steve Sechi
KK Music
June 2008
Hey man, listen to what they are saying about "About This Girl"!
July, 2007
CD REVIEW: The Histrioniks - About This Girl
By Chip Withrow - 07/24/2007 - 11:24 AM MDT Artist: Histrioniks
Album: About This Girl
Website: http://www.the histrioniks.com
Genre: Alternative Pop/Rock
Sounds Like: X, Breeders
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9/10
Overall Talent Level: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 9/10
Performance Skill: 9/10
Best Songs: Perpendicular, Anger Cherry, Woman of the Tunes
CD Review: Sometimes I tell my high school students how great it is to broaden one’s horizons. Yet when it comes to the music I listen to, lately I am often guilty of lacking adventure and wrapping myself in mellow bliss.
But the Histrioniks’ About This Girl reminds me that I used to rock – really, I did. The disc is a fresh sonic blast for these ears, and it conjures memories of some of my favorites from my edgier days: the great LA punk/Americana outfit X in the ‘80s; the intense Breeders of the ‘90s; the slightly sinister, minor-key surf music that I first discovered on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack; and the band that made many others possible, the Velvet Underground.
Larry Levy is one half of the Histrioniks duo and he wrote most of the songs; he’s also the main guitarist (and a wickedly good one) and drummer. Singer Cat Levy (who also wrote a couple of the songs) has an ethereal, flexible voice that is well-suited for these oddly catchy tracks because, as the duo’s website explains, the album is meant to be excerpts from a girl’s diary.
Opening cut “Underneath It All” explodes off the album. It’s a big, bold dose of power pop – breakneck drums, thrashed guitars, and absolutely heavenly harmonies (Cat’s voice multi-tracked, I assume). “Whiskers A Go-Go” follows and keeps the feverish pace; it’s noteworthy for endearingly weird lyrics (cat references abound) and Larry’s reverb-soaked guitar.
Perhaps the best song on the disc is the spectral and absolutely infectious “Perpendicular.” A haunting chorus, swooping organ, Cat’s shimmering harmonies … brilliant. The surf-punky “Woman of the Tunes” and the punchy “Anger Cherry” (which also has that riding-the-waves vibe) are just about as good.
Other treats are the nursery-rhyme, sing-songy “Fingers in the Rain;” the lyrically clever, erotic “My Name Was Yes;” the soulful ode to dominance and submission “Dominique;” and the new wave/flamenco (check out Larry’s acoustic solo) “Gone.”
Thanks, Histrioniks, for shaking me out of my rut and reminding me that a fresh dose of 2007 rock can remind me of so much great music I had forgotten about.
June, 2007
"Great CD! Very Jefferson Airplane type sound on a lot of tracks. I'll defintely be playing Woman of the Tunes and My Name Was Yes (and probably a few others).
Congrats on putting out such quality and authentic music! I always appreciate listening to musicians who do it from their hearts!"
Bill Futreal (The Rock and Roll Show)
“lamppost leaning solitude/nighttime falls like sin” – poetry. Aural adventure. With rock tale flavor. “short dress black with ruffled edge/tight against her waist/every stitch of inner strength/is nowhere on her face.” And you’re wondering – can one move, dance, sway with poetry? Yes. Doubly so. Five Seven Five Haiku Rhythm swaying in the rain. “The dreamer and the dreamt upon/play an unreal game/the sender and the sent upon/never are the same.” Still not convinced? “In the kitchen hell broke loose/lovers they became/showered down with hope and tears/like fingers in the rain.” Have a second helping of fine tiramisu with maple topping while listening to Woman Of The Tunes. Rich Stevenson, Eartaste
http://www.eartaste.com
Quote: "A gritty look at coming of age with all the turmoil and mood swings you’d expect from a story about the teenage years."
By Charles Martin
“I popped my anger cherry, Pop!”
A great line that typifies what goes so right with this indie roots rock offering from The Histrioniks entitled About This Girl.
The two-person group was more subdued on their debut album, but for their follow-up, they put down the acoustic guitars and plugged into the amps, hoping to give their sound more oomph. The result is a gritty look at coming of age with all the turmoil and mood swings you’d expect from a story about the teenage years. Its not unadulterated angst though; the melodies are simple, the songs are fun, and the vocals never devolve into growls and screams ... unlike the teenage years.
The aforementioned lyric from the song “Anger Cherry” taps into classic surf rock for a curiously playful song about God knows what.
“Whiskers A Go-Go” shows how far the group is plunging into the early rock and roll shtick, and it suits them well. The songwriter, Larry Levy, knows how to sell the image too, with wonderfully kitschy lines such as “This cat is like the cat’s meow.”
The few missteps on the album are the result of the group falling back into their earnest singer/songwriter mode, such as on “Picture Perfect Disrepair” which slows the album’s bouncing melodies to a dreary crawl.
A little reinvention can do wonders for a band, and with some resilient touring and a few extra musicians to help with the backing vocals and rhythm section, The Histrioniks should reap the rewards of their new sound.
http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5532
A review by Trevor McCabe from Lost Music (UK)
The Histrioniks name check bands like The Donnas and The B-52's (amongst others). I can see where they are coming from. Nowhere as quirky as the B-52's and not as 'rock' as The Donnas. But 'About This Girl' treads the line between being an upbeat and fun sounding bubblegum punk rock and something more sinsister.
It's not at all one dimensional either - there are enough highs and lows crammed into the 38 minutes. It has me hooked. At it's most throwaway it reminds me of Helen Love ('Whiskers A Go-Go' and 'Underneath It All') but the real beauty here is that these songs sit well with the less obvious songs such as - 'Fingers In The Rain' and 'Perpendicular'. Which remind me a little of the Throwing Muses, although a little less hard edged. Or something.
The band have a few MP3s for download from their website. You know what needs to be done! Give them a listen, you'll not be disappointed. I promise.
So yes, after only a few listens I am hooked by The Histrioniks. A pleasant surprise to receive something this good through the post.
http://www.lostmusic.co.uk/
A review by Amy Lotsberg, producer of Collected Sounds
First of all, how great is the name Histrioniks?
I reviewed the debut CD from this band back in 2005 and I liked it quite a bit. It was odd and hard to describe, but I liked it.
This album is quite different from that one. But you know what? I like it even more. And I'm not just saying that because they thanked me in their liner notes. Honestly.
As with the last one, it's a little hard to describe, which is why I suggest listening to the samples (and why I love CDBaby so much for offering this). So instead of trying to describe it, I'll just say what I like about it. There's something so fun about these songs. You can't help but wiggle a little in your office chair…or barstool. The melodies are interesting and intricate. The performances are charming and very well done. This band is very talented.
"Whiskers A Go-Go" has a bit of a 60s beach music feel to it. In fact many of the songs do.
"I'm So Lonely' is downright haunting. Love it.
This is just a really well thought out, well-executed, and above all fun record and I hope the Histioniks continue to put out unique and interesting music for the discerning ear.
Posted on November 18, 2006
http://www.collectedsounds.com/cdreviews/aboutthisgirl.html
That's cool, but hey, don't forget about "Homesick From The Grave"!
The post-Christmas sales are in full swing, and our eartaste friend is ready with a power taste acoustic guitar. “I see shoes and I go crazy/had to shop until I drop!/I was full/and then I’m empty/never knew just when to stop.” To be honest, the song is really not about shopping, but then, what does shopping symbolize? I love this: “try and feed me/try and need me/I might let you lick my plate.” Some of this poem is pitch blackberry eartaste: “I sit outside on a cold winter night/all alone in the dark”. Some of the poem is light fluffy cool whip eartaste: “Sun and earth revolve around me/my tattoos have left a scar.” But these mood changes only make sense as we recall the title of the song. We met the Histrioniks through their second CD a few weeks back, but is a great pleasure to dig in and find satisfaction in their first CD as well. Rich Stevenson, Eartaste 2006
http://www.eartaste.com
I really enjoyed "Homesick From The Grave". Excellent guitar work. The tremelo on "Sirena" is perfect. Beautiful vocals, rich harmonies, lots of texture. The lyrics are deep and very introspective. The music connects with the listener on an empathetic level......
not an easy task.........but flawlessly executed. Great job! Definitely two thumbs up!
Duke
http://www.surfrockradio.com
http://www.surfrockmusic.com
Just when you think you aren't going to hear anything new, unique, you hear a few in one week. This CD is one of those. I can't even begin to give you comparisons because to my knowledge there aren't any. This is an interesting and unique recording.
Amy Lotsberg, Producer
Collected Sounds
www.collectedsounds.com/cdreviews/homesickfrom.html
Interesting new-folk, cool, dark and very mellow. Acoustic girl-goddess rock strangeness. Captivating! Enthralling!
Hybrid Magazine, May 2005
Ezra Pound wrote in his "ABC of Reading" that " Poetry falters when it strays too far from music; and music falters when it strays too far from dance." That said, it is still a difficult job to put poetry to music. There are many failed attempts to illustrate this point; however, The Histrioniks have succeeded by not only putting Larry Levy's poetry to music, but to actually create an album of excellent songs. Perhaps it is because Larry's musical involvement with The Swiv-o-matics that his poetry does not stray far from music. Or, perhaps it his wife Cat's sincere interpretation of the poetry in her singing. I cannot imagine anyone else singing these songs as well.
I didn't want to write about these songs until I completely understood them; however, I now realize that won't happen. Each time I listen to this CD I hear new things. Consequently, the imagery continues to evolve. I'm glad that The Histrioniks didn't make it easy by printing the words because the poetry in these songs is so good. This CD should be listened to rather than being read along with. The dramatic changes in the songs, Cat's singing and Larry's great guitar playing all highlight both the introspective nature of the songs as well as the worldly view, tempered occasionally with humor, contained in them. The juxtaposition of these elements in the songs make them all the more the dramatic.
I should talk about each song because they warrant the attention but I'll spare you that. Suffice it to say that my wife, my 15 year old daughter and myself are all fans of The Histrioniks. That speaks volumes! In the song, "I Can't Remember When I Died", Cat and Larry sing: "When I was young I was free, and when I am free I am young. But now and then don't seem to coincide, and I can't remember when I died." Thanks to The Histrioniks and to these songs I'm reminded that I can be young whenever I choose and that there are always new things to discover!
Tom Hinders
Tsunami Soul
WOBC 91.5 FM
http://wobc.org (Thursday, 6:00-8:00pm EST)
http://www.oberlin.edu/staff/thinders/
This Baltimore husband and wife team, of Cat and Larry Levy have created an impressive debut CD with "Homesick From The Grave". A pretty simple formula; Cat sings and did the cover art, and Larry plays his guitars and writes the words and music (he sings on one as well). They are doing a sort of folkish homemade art pop here. Though they admirably don't seem to be aiming at any specific reference points; in various places this brings to mind: early Roches, Throwing Muses, Current 93, Sorrow, Belly, and the Shaggs, without sounding much like any of them.
George Parsons
Dream Magazine #6
http://www.dreamgeo.com
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