NYC SMOKE
For The Posers (Smoke Recordings)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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NYC Smoke is the latest incarnation of singer/songwriter/guitarist/film maker Howie Statland. After recording 5 RCA albums with his old band, Thin Lizard Dawn, Statland took time for some film and soundtrack projects, a collaboration with Philip Glass and some one-off personal projects. When the rock band bug bit again, it was time to assemble NYC Smoke, which debuts with For The Posers.

In a sense, Statland & Co. are exploring the same psychic landscape that the Velvet Underground surveyed a few decades back - the seamy underbelly of the New York arty hipster scene. While he doesn't describe it in the same terms or style, what Statland finds there today isn't any prettier than what Messrs Reed and Cale saw oh so long ago. It's a great source for rock 'n roll, though, and Howie Statland delivers a rich, nearly cinematic picture of what he observes in surprisingly plain language.

The music is delivered in a similarly straightforward fashion - good ol' bass, drums & guitar rock and roll with the lyrics high enough in the mix to tell you that Mr. Statland has something to say if you'll take time to listen. I recommend you take the time.

Track List:

Balance * Harbor * Lies * The Letter * Empire Of Doubt (wine and roses) * The Fallout * Euthanasia * Bigger * Halo Man * Lullabye * Pick & Choose

[Pick this up at http://www.statland.net/howie/sound/buy.htm.]

© 2002 - Shaun Dale