Send "Elk City " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Popmatters |
 Although they may not be a household name just yet, New York’s Elk City has just released their fourth full length, House of Tongues. Relying on a blend of rock, soul, and jazz, it’s almost shocking when you learn that they’ve been around since 1997 and are still struggling to make people sit up and pay attention to them. Perhaps the well-crafted House of Tongues will assist them with such a weighty task.The real star of Elk City’s sound is singer Renee LoBue and her sultry and versatile vocals. At times, she channels a more modern, Regina Spektor-esque sound, but LoBue is clearly at her best when she’s paying homage to idols like Patti Smith and Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders. On “Wire Goats”, she stretches her range and comes off like a Parisian female version of David Bowie, which is interesting, considering that LoBue is from New York and not Paris. In another instance, on “Real Low Riders”, the opening track, tightly wound guitars and brushes of percussion dance around LoBue’s modern-sounding vocals, as bursts of handclaps and her catchy vocal refrain close out the lively song. Her spirited and flexible vocal range give Elk City an edge that not all bands have and that proves to be a fantastic focal point of House of Tongues. “Wire Goats” isn’t the only song that finds LoBue channeling her inner Parisian—a great deal of the album showcases a more sophisticated and “European” sound, of sorts, for the band. The lyrics of “Nine O’Clock In France” even literally deal with this subject as LoBue sings about a dream vacation for some while singing “It’s nine o’clock in France / We’re going out for cocktails and ice cream”, and then later lets the reality of “A dead end job / a dead end town” set in. Not many bands are brave enough to try and pull off a European sound when they are clearly American, and you have to give Elk City props for attempting to do so, even if they occasionally churn out some duds like “Neat Knight”, “Protection”, and “Stars”, the latter of which actually contains the lyric, “When I stop wishing on stars”. Groan....full text |
| Battlemouth |
| Elk City is a small Oklahoma city with a heritage in oil, agriculture, and transport, as well as being part of the history of Route 66. It is somewhat of a mystery then as to why a band from New York would name themselves after this small city, especially when the band’s music itself is full of the urban sophistication of their home city. Whatever the case may be, the band Elk City have been making a name for themselves with their foray into 1970s radio pop-style music, and have recently released their sophomore album, House of Tongues. Since their formation in 1999, Elk City have been developing their trademark sound, wrapping in elements of rock, jazz, folk, and soul to create the 70s-style music they are now known for. Singer Renée LoBue’s fairly distinctive voice adds a certain level of sophistication to the music, yet one can imagine her holding her own in a rock-off against Debbie Harry. The later addition of guitarist Sean Eden (formerly of indie pop legends Luna) introduced his crisp, clean guitar playing, dovetailing nicely into the band’s music, and complementing LoBue’s voice perfectly....full text |
| Absolutepunk |
| Elk CIty is a town of 10,510 residents in Beckham County, Oklahoma, located just off historic Rte. 66 and I-40. It's not a particularly exciting or awe-inspiring place. How or why exactly the New Jersey-by-way-of-New York city quartet named their band after this Sooner locale is anyone's guess. That's where the uncertainty ends though, as the band's sophomore album House of Tongues may just be the sleeper hit of the year. This gnomic, 10-song effort is nothing short of stunning. Seductive, languorous and incredibly sophisticated, the group revisits 1970s radio pop while also tackling folk, soul and jazz. Elk City is anchored by vocalist Renee LoBue whose vocal gymnastics bend and twist around circular guitars, layers of lush orchestrations and undeniably potent melodies. Equal parts Laurel Canyon and Parisian coffeehouse, this intoxicating tapestry is eerily without flaw. Guitarist Sean Eden, who was a member of the seminal wonderboys Luna feels more comfortable on this disc than ever before and his indelible guitar lines reverberate from opening cut "Real Low Riders" to the epic closer "2010," which channels both Bowie and Eno. Elk City is more than just veneer and coruscates though. The urgent "Jerks on Ice," is jittery, jumpy and emotionally exhausting, while the should-be single "Nine O'Clock in France," swirls and ducks around LoBue's seductive phrasing. She and Eden are backed by drummer/producer Ray Ketcham and keyboardist Carl Bagalley who form a cohesive whole on the punchy "Stars," which is anchored by Ketcham's bombastic drumming. One of the album's indubitable pinnacles is the slow-moving "The Onion," in which LoRue documents an afternoon spent reading the mock newspaper as she opines, "I finally have the courage to look in the mirror and stand up for my life."...full text |
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