The Henry Clay People- Blacklist the Kid with the Red Moustache

ARTIST: The Henry Clay People
ALBUM: Blacklist the Kid with the Red Moustache
LABEL: Self-released
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 10-27-07

You know this album is going to be quirky hipster music just by the song titles alone; "Elly vs. The Eczema Princess" hardly rolls off the tongue like "I Want to Hold Your Hand." Forgive The Henry Clay People for their eccentricities. Their lyrics, though undeniably peculiar, are nevertheless clever, and more importantly, their playing owes more to classic rock and even punk than the insufferably twee pop noise that passes for alternative music these days. "The Bandage on the Bloodclot" is a bit like Pavement in that it's unabashedly geeky but still rocks out, "Fiche Bag" and "The Untitled Communist Song" feature a classic rock guitar twang that betrays the band's affection for Creedence Clearwater Revival, and "The Gentle Charm of the Soviette" has the kind of low-fi punk rock vibe of early Elvis Costello. Lyrics on "The Man in the Riverbed" do sort of cross the line between idiosyncratic and impenetrable, but who cares about that when you've got such chunky upbeat power chords propelling things along? The Henry Clay People might be a bit too smart for their own good at times, but solid drumbeats and unabashed rocking out keeps them anchored. Unlike so many indie rock bands, The Henry Clay People actually sound like they're having fun. This may be music for hipsters, but you won't have to pretend to like this CD just to fit in with the in-crowd. It's such a blast, you'll end up rocking out whether you want to or not.

Rock out with the cool kids at www.thehenryclaypeople.com.