WHERE THE HOKEY POKEY "IS" WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT

The Cliks

Snakehouse

  • AMG Review of Snakehouse

    Amg
    David Jeffries
    All Music Guide

    A thoroughly exciting debut, the Cliks' Snakehouse kicks like the White Stripes, bellows carbaret-ock style like Hedwig & the Angry Inch, and has a press release that goes "thud" when it hits the desk. Their bold, strong, and extremely talented leader Lucas Silveira is a transgendered FTM (female-to-male) leading an all-female, androgynous band. That's news, and so is their gutsy take on Justin Timberlake's previously slick "Cry Me a River," a quirky choice that pulls new meaning out of a hit (see Tori Amos, Type O Negative, Ted Leo, etc.). Both of these bullet points are of some importance since "he" and "she" are used willy-nilly on this gender indifferent album and the powers that be decided that "Cry Me a River" should be in the coveted track number two slot. That's the "this is the defining single" slot on most albums, which is even more important if it's your debut. While the band put its broken heart into the Timberlake cover and twists it in a way that's well above being clever, the track is topped repeatedly by Silveira's own songs, and a handful of them are near-perfect constructions that trump Timberlake, transgender, packaging, and hype. With its "Peter Gunn Theme" shuffle and early-Divinyls blast, "Oh Yeah" is heartbreak at its worst and at its loudest in an earth-shaking performance that demands attention. "Misery" ("They said you were lovely/But all I see is ugly") is pure late-night venom, supported by a drunken beat that stumbles but never falls over. Bassist Jordan B. Wright and drummer Morgan Doctor are the incredibly tight rhythm section that thrives on these late-night tales and on the polished garage rock atmosphere -- a little more Garbage than trash -- that their smart producer, Moe Berg, has constructed. They also make the Cliks sound like a band rather than a vehicle for Silveira, but with powerful lyrics, powerful voice, and powerful delivery, Silveira's the focal point like Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano or 4 Non Blondes' Linda Perry. It's doubtful Silveira will grow up to write hits for een pop stars like Perry did, since morose and bitter songs of casual sex and betrayal with some cussing and swears are the songwriter's specialty. It's a narrow spectrum, and while Snakehouse suffers from a couple redundant numbers, it's a great reason to stay up late, break up with your significant other, find solace in a stranger's bedroom, reconsider your own gender role, or at least pretend you did all of the above.

f.your.pain.away.
over 2 years ago

I realize that it’s been awhile since I’ve had a bonafide music post. Mostly because it’s been a long time since I’ve found something that y’all didn’t introduce me too. So – I had a double craving for something new – something just mine, if only for a second before I shared it with y’all. That doesn’t happen a lot because I’m too lazy to search for good stuff – all my e

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without further ado my top 10 of 2007
about 1 year ago

The Cliks - SnakehousePowderfinger - Dream Days At the Hotel ExistenceEarthless - Rhythms from a Cosmic SkyNeverending White Lights - Act II: the Blood and the Life EternalYear Long Disaster -Self TitledJohnette Napolitano - ScarredOkkervil River -The Stage NamesChris Duarte - Blue VelocityThe Fucking Champs - VILucinda Williams - WestJason Isbell - Sirens of the DitchKings of Leon - Because of...

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THE MOST FUCKED UP THING I’VE EVER SEEN: The Cliks
4 months ago

BY LUCAS SILVEIRA OF THE CLIKS from the web site Blurt When I was asked to do this piece, I didn't even have to think twice about what I would write about. About three years ago, in early January in my hometown of Toronto, I woke up to the day I would sign my very first major label record deal. I peaked out the door to see how cold it was because if I could avoid driving, I would like to walk ...

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Cry me a river.....
7 months ago

a cover of cry me a river for ms lucy whom had not heard.this is from the "snakehouse" lp of 2007i could not get enough of this when it came outchucky pimpette turned me on to this hereRAWK IT PEOPLEThe Cliksi can't wait for the new one

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another taste of clik
over 2 years ago

This one rocks a little harder and there's no whining. I leave you with this because I just got my Redman Primer from Troy and I must go study. :P

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Darmuzz’s Behind-the-Times Year-End List
about 1 year ago
Blog post image preview

I like to buy albums I’ve been anticipating, or “preview” albums selectively…I find if I download everything that catches my ear, the music doesn’t get a fair chance because I’m too overwhelmed. So about 25 new albums were added to my collection this year. I thought about making a Top Ten list, but realistically, I was still catching up on 2006 albums all year, and even some 2005s. So

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f.your.pain.away.
over 2 years ago

I realize that it’s been awhile since I’ve had a bonafide music post. Mostly because it’s been a long time since I’ve found something that y’all didn’t introduce me too. So – I had a double craving for something new – something just mine, if only for a second before I shared it with y’all. That doesn’t happen a lot because I’m too lazy to search for good stuff – all my e

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ah,another cover
over 2 years ago

well thanks to Chuckyi'm a kinda diggin this thenall music says about this band:Gutsy, melodic, dramatic, and dark, Toronto's the Cliks arrived on the scene in 2007 with two strong bullet points. First, they covered Justin Timberlake's hit "Cry Me a River" in a White Stripes meets the Pretenders style, and second, leader Lucas Silveira was a transgendered FTM (female-to-male) leading an all-fem...

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hyping this band now
over 2 years ago

thanks to a ROCKNROLLPIMPETTEcause she fuggin *RAWKS*and this does tooFuck your pain awayIt’s what you had to doTo fall on through to emotionFuck your pain awayYou slipped on throughI felt in you the commotionHey I wanna go homeDon’t wanna be here aloneYeah, I really can’t stay CHORUSOh I really ought to goNo, I really can’t stayOh this pain in my headNo, it won’t go awayOh I really oug

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