Dirty Kings and Mind Control

SteveK on the latest from the Cliks and Tantric

Tantric: Mind Control

The fourth album by Post-Grunge rockers, Tantric, is a letdown.  Maybe I had higher expectations, after the delights that were ‘Burn Burn’ by Our Lady Peace, Billy Talent’s ‘III’ and Stareblind’s ‘Something Left Unexplained’, last week.  There seemed to be no end to the great Post-Grunge rock I was getting access to.  And then I listened to ‘Mind Control’, from Tantric. 

While the former are all examples of artists who manage to bring fresh interpretations to their chosen musical genre, crafting music that gives us a new perspective on Grunge and/or Post-Grunge Rock, Tantric seem to content themselves with simply rehashing someone else’s shtick.  From the Smashing Pumpkins-style guitar licks to the Alice in Chains two-part harmony rip-offs, there really isn’t anything original or even remotely innovative here.

The whole album sounds like a bad imitation of an also-ran Grunge band from a Saturday Night Live sketch.  Listening to Hugo Ferreira try and make his soft, smooth voice sound rough and growly for the “harder” parts of the songs on ‘Mind Control’, reminds me of listening to my friends’ young son try to talk like Darth Vader: it’s obvious he’s putting a lot of effort into what he’s doing, but it probably only sounds good to his own ears.

Really, give Tantric’s ‘Mind Control’ a pass.  If you want some good Post-Grunge, pick up the aforementioned ‘Billy Talent: III’ or Our Lady Peace’s ‘Burn Burn’, or better yet go buy some old Soundgarden, Screaming Trees and Alice in Chains.

Tantric: Mind Control

Silent Majority

Steve’s Rating: 2/10

The Cliks: Dirty King

Toronto Alt-Rockers, the Cliks, are back with their third album.  While many dismissed them as a novelty act, having a transgendered female-to-male lead singer and an all-outed LGTB lineup, the fact is that the Cliks’ music has always really stood well on its own.

While casual listeners might be confused by the masculine content of the music being sung by Lucas Silveira’s feminine voice, and mainstream radio seems to avoid even mentioning the band, the fact is they do record some passably interesting, Blues and Folk driven Rock music. 

Songs like “Emily” and “We are the Wolverines” stand out on the album’s 11-track set.  However, the songs, while capably performed and well produced, just don’t seem to affect me.  The music fades instantly into the background, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, the fact is there’s not a song on this album that stayed with me, even after repeat listenings. 

Perusal of fan reviews of ‘Dirty King’ suggest that I simply don’t “get” their music, and that people who enjoy the Cliks will enjoy this album in particular. 

If you are a fan of the Cliks, you should definitely get this one.  If you’re not a fan but looking to get into them, you should ask a fan to recommend which of their albums you should start with.

The Cliks: Dirty King

Tommy Boy

Steve’s Rating: 6/10