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 Blindsided by a Company of Thieves Nov 03, 2009
My days of seeking the 'next new and amazing band that nobody has heard of' are starting to whither away as I realize the purchasing-power deficit that 30 year olds wield against the predominantly teeny-bopper driven Music Industry. However, much like love happening when you stop trying to find it or car keys reappearing after you've given up looking, finding Company of Thieves came into my life by a brilliant stroke of fortuity that was neither planned, intended, nor expected.
I went to The Knitting Factory in Hollywood one night to see a friend's band playing second on a roster of some four other bands. I didn't care who the headliners were, nor did I intend to wait for them to even grace the stage. I was there to support my friends.
After their set, we stuck around, hanging out by the 'merch' (stole that from Wilco) and finishing our cocktails. Lo and behold, a tiny sprite of a woman took the stage, backed by a cadre of what appeared to be your typical, backing musicians. I paid little attention, focusing instead on picking out a tee shirt for my friend's band to shamelessly promote them around Los Angeles.
After a song or two into Company of Thieves' set, I became confused. Having relegated them to background noise, flirting instead with random merchandise hawkers, I couldn't believe that the sprite I'd seen on stage earlier was the very same vocalist transfixing the entire audience. I'd dismissed her as a sound engineer or something. Surely that diminutive girl couldn't belt such fierce notes? However, as most biases are - my prejudices were soon and decidedly dispelled.
Genevieve Schatz is a revelation. Her voice is at one-time Bjork-like, without the kitschy, Icelandic pretense and at another a riveting and commanding Fiona Apple who (happily) doesn't expend all of her lyrics trying to prove how 'different' or 'unloveable' she is. Her onstage performances are intense and focused, as well as unencumbered by fear of any kind. Fear clearly does not exist in Ms. Schatz's dojo.
You can tell she gives it her all with every performance, never seeming to mind if she looks 'cool' while doing it. And yet - that kind of comfort and self-confidence is exactly what makes her so damned cool.
The band, and not to give them short shrift here, are equally intense and focused on nailing their performances. No offense to the guys, who do their jobs expertly and are clearly not just stage-fillers. Rather, they seem attuned to what their front-woman is doing, completely absorbed in the organic performance on a given night. It's just hard to pay attention to them while that Siren is on stage singing, unless of course, you're bound to a mast like Odysseus.
Luckily for those of you not able to catch them in concert, their debut CD - "Ordinary Riches" - masterfully captures a fair representation of what Company of Thieves is capable of. Whether it's their first single, "Oscar Wilde" with its insanely catchy chorus (or the acoustic version also found on the CD) or the strings-dominated and haunting "Fire Song", you too will know that Company of Thieves is capable of stealing your heart...
Especially if you're not looking...
Fresh Aug 27, 2009
Regardless the fact that this is a reissue of the same music published years ago, this music sound really fresh to me and brings me joy and a good time. I recommend it.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Awesome performers! Aug 14, 2009
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue! I saw them in LA and I met Genevieve right before the show. She was sweet and polite---then a little while later she jumped on the stage and transformed into a full-blown rocker who gave it her all for every song! Their album is poetic and I love Marc's guitar work on Oscar Wilde. I will definitely be back to see them play live!
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Band has potential Aug 05, 2009
Too often on Ordinary Riches, Company of Thieves show either a lack of direction (including the songs "Quiet On The Front" and "The Fire Song," which have good ideas and go in too many directions), or just don't have enough melody at all (opener "Old Letters). There are times when they put it all together, like on the jazz-influenced pop of "In Passing," the more straight up indie-pop of "Pressure," and the very pretty ballad "Even In The Dark." If they can focus themselves more, their next album should be a definite improvement.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Indie-Pop that'll grow on you. Jul 26, 2009
When I first heard this CD I liked it but it didn't make a big impression on me.Over the next few weeks,I ended up listening to it a few more times and now I actually sought it out to play again.The song-writing is good and the playing is even better.Listen to it and give it a try.
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