Henrietta, The Trick Is Not Minding, 2014

Album Review

“and now I know”

When I think of Orlando, I think of three things: Disney, Shaq and Penny. I'm sorry, Orlando. That's all I've got. When I think of music from F-L-A, I think of Hot Water Music, Flo Rida (that's a layup, although I can't name a song) and Against Me!. Yes, I'm aware of Dikembe and You Blew It!, but they've yet to grab me. I missed the little tip off from my friends at Washed Up Emo, too. Sometimes it happens. And anyway, I'm so up in my North East, and feeling like everyone in Florida needs lozenges, that I don't remember much else. I turned up the stereo recently, though, and started to warm up to Henrietta.

Some bands come together quickly, find their sweet spot and quickly burn out as fast as they arrived. Henrietta have been honing their sound for last six odd years, releasing a few songs here and there. I Bandcamped my way through their early singles, EPs; and I see a dramatic change in direction. Instead of carrying on that throaty Florida tradition (I kid.), they've ventured in a more melodic direction. The Trick Is Not Minding is their debut LP for Animal Style Records. Endless touring, it seems, has served Henrietta well. This is a tight record. It's all led up to this. I'm getting on board now and this record fits snugly into my summer rotation of Braid, Frontier(s), Beach Slang, The Hotelier and Gates. Crap, that's a lot of name dropping.

I drifted off for a moment and couldn't help thinking of the phrase "really explore the studio space this time" from the “More Cowbell” sketch on SNL. It's not a dig at all, but I can imagine that phrase being said during the creation of these tunes. Big and dreamy and expansive and completely from the heart. This is a record that beckons to be listened to again and again. Find the new details, the new ripples. The vocals are deep within the mix and, at times, are as much as an instrument within the band as the guitars or drums; and as I go through my fourth listen, I'm finding new things. Just try not to sing along as we close the tune "Vacations" with a repeated chorus of, “Now I know!” When I said this LP was tight, I wasn't kidding. I'm starting to feel the threads weave throughout into one seamless work. Summer rotation indeed.

And, for the record, I'm still not up on Florida happenings; but I do want to see Henrietta when they roll through this part of town.

The Trick Is Not Minding is due from Animal Style Records on August 26th.

Henrietta will be playing The Batcave in Montclair on Tuesday, August 12th, with Echo Base, Teach Me Equals, Jonathan Badger, and Lucas Brode.