The first time I took The Icarus Line seriously was during the 2003 Sunset Junction Music Fest. It was 95 degrees on a crowded Silverlake stretch of Sunset Boulevard, and the band was dressed in all black thrashing away. Tension was obviously high, as their guitarist, after having finished a solo mid-set, threw a bunch of speakers into the crowd and stormed off-stage. The music wasn't the focus, but I certainly enjoyed the moment.
Up until now, The Icarus Line has been known less for their music and more for their antics, especially the infamous Stevie Ray Vaughn incident where one of the guys smashed open a glass case and plugged in one of his sacred guitars deep in the heart of Austin, Texas. Without a doubt, Penance Soiree is going to change all of that.
With The Icarus Line's second album and major label debut for V2, Penance Soiree has the distinction of being 2004's Source Tags & Codes (only it's about 100x better). Where Source Tags & Codes displayed Trail of Dead wearing their influences on their sleeves with little originality, Penance Soiree sees the band shining with their own ideas while taking in forty years of rock's darkest traditions.
Penance Soiree is a collection of 13 slimey, drugged-up, sonic tales from Hollywood, CA. From the minute the thick bass-lines kick in on the opening single "Up Against The Wall," the band doesn't slow down one bit. Sleazy vocals reminiscent of a young Iggy Pop wail throughout the album, particularly on "Kiss Like Lizards" where singer Joe Cardamone asks "Who's gonna miss this flesh when I'm gone?" On the nine-minute Spacemen 3-esque epic "Getting Bright At Night," he screams "Never give up on me babe" as the fuzzed out guitars reach its ultimate climax.
The Icarus Line make this album work because they stay above that thin line that makes tribute of their influences while taking rock in new directions. You hear little details that other bands have seemed to have forgotten in recent memory. On "On The Lash," wailing guitars and tribal drums meet at the end of the track with a simple tambourine shake that just brings the song to a thrashing, perfect conclusion.
The Icarus Line obviously have been listening to some great music since their debut release Mono. Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Beggars Banquet-era Rolling Stones -- it's all here and done impeccably well. While everyone else tries to steal from the greats, The Icarus Line have done an impressive job at continuing the great traditions in rock music. Penance Soiree is that rare album that comes around far less frequently these days.
1. Up Against the Wall Motherfuckers
2. Spit on It
3. On the Lash
4. Caviar
5. Spike Island
6. Kiss Like Lizards
7. Getting Bright at Night
8. Big Sleep
9. White Devil
10. Meatmaker
11. Virgin Velcro
12. Sea Sick
13. Party the Baby Off
More about: The Icarus Line
