The Cliks – Dirty King

by Georgie PenDragon

Should Rilo Kiley and Sam Phillips ever have a life-changing encounter in a dark alley, they could easily fuse into this creature known as The Cliks (Facebook, Twitter). The songs on this Toronto based trio’s second album Dirty King do nothing to dissuade me from this theory. Melodically smooth like Rilo, and lyrically dark and pleading like Phillips…songs like “Love Gun” ( which is deep and frothy and reminiscent of 60’s ballads all about shooting one’s lovers), “Henry” and “Emily”…sport a stripped down, yet richer-for-it sound…each instrument doing it’s recitative best before slipping back into the sweet collective haze of the music.

Lead singer Lucas Silveira, who just became the first transgender man to win the Throw Your Underwear Award Male (Sexiest Canadian Man) in the year end reader’s poll by Canada’s premier music magazine, Chart Attack, explains that he wrote the album from a very lonely place after 400 days of touring for the band’s sophomore album Snakehouse, and that the album’s collection of songs is based around defeat, lies, deception of loss of trust in one’s self and others. Well, who can’t relate to those emotions at some time or other, especially such emotions tidied into such catchy soothing bouquets, like a pretty-colored, bittersweet wine in the titillating framework of a crystal glass.

I like “Red and Blue.” It’s a good tell-the-poetic-truth after the relationship’s done song..which Serena Ryder has formula-ed in another song with red in it’s title:  “.. And what did you think I’d do while you painted red and I painted blue, I cut off my hands to build the truth, forever the liar inside you…” It’ s sleepy and syrupy in vocal. “I’m Not Your Boy” is confessional and echoes with a classic choir-boy lilt: “I’m so glad you cannot see me, I’ve been drinkin’ , I’m sinkin…I’m not your boy, I’m not yours and I don’t think I’ve ever been..”

The album’s title cut has to be my favorite. “Dirty King” takes on a more, Rush meets Muse and goes surfing tack, it has that ethereal, yet deep down dirty-bad appeal. Definitely dance-able, yes you could be my Dirty K-k-k-k-ing. The lyrical structure to this album is different and refreshing. Give it a spin, if you like that sort of thing.

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