Boston Globe, MA, USA


ALBUM REVIEW

Cliks return with surprise, swagger

June 22, 2009


--
Rock
The Cliks Dirty King
Tommy Boy
ESSENTIAL “Henry’’
--


The cover of the Cliks’ second album is a shot of frontman Lucas
Silveira hunched in the corner of a boxing ring, scowl on his face,
crown on his head, and a pair of red scars where his breasts used to
be. “I can do the dishes/ And I could climb your walls/ And I’ll clean
out my stitches with rubbing alcohol,’’ he sneers over a grimy surf
riff on the title track of “Dirty King.’’

It’s a swaggering song, a bravely visceral chronicle of Silveira’s
odyssey, and a like-minded extension of the Cliks’ prickly 2007 debut.
But as a whole, this is a surprising album. Where a listener might
reasonably expect “Dirty King’’ to be a still more forceful expression
of the transgendered singer and songwriter’s masculinity, the music
here is actually more nuanced, more varied, and in places poignant and
tender.

“Not Your Boy’’ and “Red and Blue’’ plumb classic pop, delicately
ornamented “Emily’’ leaps into nearly whimsical theatricality, and
disc closer “Animal Farm’’ burns and aches like a vintage FM power
ballad. Silveira isn’t a masterful lyricist, but there’s some
searching, full-bodied songcraft here. And after a run of lineup
changes, the trio, which includes drummer Morgan Doctor and bassist
Jen Benton, has found the elusive sweet spot between scrappy and
seasoned. (See: “Henry’’) Silveira’s singing, too, has blossomed.

It’s as if the closer he gets to the man inside, the easier it is for
him to embrace the multitudes inside us all. (Out tomorrow)

JOAN ANDERMAN


© Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2009/06/22/cliks_return_with_\
surprise_swagger/