Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers : Teenage and Torture

'Teenage and Torture' has less Shilpa Ray, and is better for it, reaching 'not bad' levels. ...
Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers : Teenage and Torture
5.2 Knitting Factory
2011 

Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers : Teenage and Torture

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Beat the Devil (QRO live review) stood out in the Brooklyn indie music scene thanks to frontwoman Shilpa Ray’s voice and instrument, and she’s stood out even more so since going solo with Her Happy Hookers.  Ray’s low register sing-bellow vocals and accordion-like harmonium have been praised by the likes of Nick Cave – unfortunately, they’re the kind of sounds that are tailor-made for musicians & critics to praise just to show their insider knowledge and taste, as Ray’s music isn’t that appealing to the average listener.  However, on sophomore Hooker release Teenage and Torture, the Ray is at least dimmed to the point that it reaches ‘not bad’ levels.

Shilpa Ray’s voice could conceivably appeal to some, but seems mostly notable just for being unusual, lacking harmony or melody.  Her harmonium, on the other hand, basically just sounds like what it basically just is: an accordion laid down on its side (it originated in Europe in the nineteenth century, before being imported to India and gaining popularity there).  The accordion has been rising in indie-circles, which only makes Ray’s harmonium less interesting.  Hooker debut A Fish Hook An Open Eye (QRO review) focused heavily on both, and suffered.

Teenage and Torture, though, sees Her Happy Hookers get in more on the action, with some garage-rock energy on tracks such as “Heaven In Store”, “Liquidation Sale”, “Erotolepsy”, and especially “The Chelsea Clinic Physical” – and they’re the most enjoyable songs on the album.  But even when Ray gets slow and maudlin, it’s still more forgettable than out-and-out bad on “Venus Shaver”, “Dames a Dime a Dozen”, “Genie’s Drugs”, and closer “Requiem In a Key I Don’t Know”.  The old Ray way is really only apparent on opener “Hookers” (hopefully not their anthem…), as she bellows her way through some in-your-face dance hall.

Teenage and Torture is less Shilpa Ray-heavy than A Fish Hook An Open Eye, and when there’s the less Ray on Teenage, it’s for the better.  It reaches the level of not bad, if you can even call that faint praise, but is also less noticeable.

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