At first, New York City-based band Telling on Trixie seems awash in mystery: What does the name of the band mean? What is the meaning of the cryptic cover art of their self-titled debut album? And, most of all, what is their musical style? As soon as their listening audience is pulled in with the first track, "Halfway Back to Sane", however, we know that we are in for a unique sound experience. This is bona fide powerhouse rock and intricate pop production, with expert electronic sounds permeating the music. Telling on Trixie features the doubly penetrating weapon of Telling on Trixie's charismatic frontman Derek Nicoletto (who co-wrote all the lyrics and music with Brad Small) and his selection of background musicians. Nicoletto's voice is sensitive and slightly yearning without sounding vulnerable, strong without being intimidating (with the exception, perhaps, of "Devil's Best Friend" towards the end...), and occasionally brooding. Yet, his delivery is always genuine and grounded. As Nicoletto sings, beats pulsate and throb, guitars (by Fil Izler) go wild, and drums (by Ethan Eubanks) pound in the background. The 10 tracks on "Telling on Trixie" the album feature intense tracks like "Circles in the Sky" and more stripped-down tracks like "Atlantis". The hard-hitting "Dumb Boy" is an energetic variation of the saga about the "good ol' boy" who makes some bad mistakes. Boy, can't we all relate! Nicoletto sneaks in some impressive notes at the end of this track. Telling on Trixie opts for a more ethereal sound for "Orion's Light", which features smooth grooves and a more soulful (This is "hazel-eyed soul", baby! ), soothing vocal style by Derek-- along with accents of dynamic guitar and drums. "Orion's Light" strikes the listener as an '80's-inspired power ballad for the 2007 New York City generation of movers and shakers; it's as inspirational as its title would imply. "Circle in the Sky" ups the musical ante a notch (OK, several notches!) with its dynamic electo-rock sound. Indeed, Derek's got the vocals to match. The result is that "Circles in the Sky" is the the climax of "Telling on Trixie", the album's most infectious track. It never breaks in its intensity, even as the song enters its simmering finale.
"Instincts" returns to the more ethereal sound the band demonstrated with "Orion's Light", but juxtaposes the feeling with aggressive guitar work and just a touch of a pyschadelic flavor throughout. Check out these lyrics: "Kamikaze lust to justify, like Adam and his apple; Like Judas and his foolish pride. I rush to complication, I speed to my own death; I’m trading my foundation for a moment of your heated breath. I’m trusting my instincts, Adam’s apple tasting right, I’m trusting my instincts...". "Twisted in Knots" offers a pounding beat and some throbbing hesitancy and urgency in Nicoletto's voice. "Devil's Best Friend", full of attitude, reinvents Derek as 'bad boy', clearly influenced (At least this reviewer got that impression...) by his bad boy brothers in the realm of country music: "I can't stand your face, Your lying mouth is too crooked to mention, I've got a gritty little issue to bring to your attention; Infidelity's your strong suit, baby. Now you're gonna see mine; 'cuz I'm a hard drivin' man with diabolical plans, and I can make you or break you with either one of these hands..." It's yet another highlight on the album. "Telling on Trixie" ends with "Your Silence", a much-needed "cool down" session, with a stripped-down sound and rather thoughtful (dare I say "earnest"?) aura. It's an interesting, almost teasingly abrupt ending to a wild ride of an album.
It's difficult to pinpoint exactly who Telling on Trixie's musical influences are... but with their musical skill, intense presentation, expert production, and more than just a little "edge", Telling on Trixie strike me as being the East Coast reincarnation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers as we enter 2007 and beyond. Yet with their band's rock-solid debut album, the team of Derek Nicoletto and Brad Small-- the masterminds behind the music-- show us that Telling on Trixie is truly their own invention.
Jed Ryan
PM Entertainment Magazine
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