REVIEW: Shirk Circus, Words To Say (Bar/None)

- Dan Enright

I like this disc, but it sounds sorta... familiar - like a lot of the stuff I hear on the local college radio stations, but much better than the local commercial crap. This is the band's first full length album, although their press release claims they have a six song demo - a tribute cassette to Gene Wilder (Miasma, Beamed to Wilder), and a four song 7" on M.Y. Nation Records (Because of You, I Missed the Guess Who Concert). They appear to be smart-asses.

The album reminds me, in an overpowering way, of early Crazy Horse with Elvis Costello singing, especially the cuts "Fine Line" and "Basement". Basement has that country feedback sound that Neil and the Horse love so much. The rest of the album is distorted guitars and pop melodies tempered with atonal chord changes. The usual suspects of teenage angst and alienation seem to be the content of the lyrics. Pretty much mainstream rock and roll at this point.

The album was recorded live with producer Ray Ketchum in an hour and captures the sound of a live show with a quality sound mix.

The band consists of Josh Silverman (vocals, guitar, songwriter), Dan Shafer (bass, vocals), and Frank Lieberum (drums, vocals). The band encourages fan mail and can be reached by sending a SASE to Shirk Circus, 85 Povershon Rd., Nutley, NJ 07110