Company of Thieves are one of the best acts to come out of Chicago in the past couple of years and after their initial release of Ordinary Riches, I was hooked. “Indie rock band” is a popular tag these days, but add “female vocalist” and you’ve got something new and exciting. And Genevieve Schatz certainly does not disappoint. She may look like a fragile, pretty thing with her bouncy curls and always creative outfits, but once she belts out a couple notes I guarantee your jaw will be on the floor. She means business.
Their sophomore effort Running from a Gamble starts strong with a short a capella tune appropriately titled “Intro”; I’d like to think it’s there to give listeners a couple seconds to prepare for the mind-blowing music they’re about to hear. We dive right into “Queen of Hearts,” a song I heard first at Lollapalooza 2010, among other songs the band has played live over the past couple months including “Nothing’s In The Flowers” and “Gorgeous/Grotesque.” Company of Thieves must feel the same way about the aforementioned songs; they’re my favorites on the album and I play them over and over and over and just can’t get enough.
Running from a Gamble, like Ordinary Riches, showcases a full range of subject and emotion. “Queen of Hearts,” “Nothing’s In The Flowers,” and “Tallulah” are light and get your toes tapping. “Death of Communication,” “King of Dreams,” “Gorgeous/Grotesque” and “Won’t Go Quietly” take on weightier topics and Genevieve’s passion boils over in the earnestness of her vocals. Only Genevieve Schatz can sing about a city’s garbage-littered streets and make it sound sexy, as seen in “Gorgeous/Grotesque.” “Won’t Go Quietly” hits me so hard that I feel like the band is playing just for me. The vocals become desperate cries and screams for attention and the quiet hum of guitars and drums in the background increase the tension until you can hardly stand it. “Take Me For A Man” holds the same passion; what a fantastic way to wrap up an album. Company of Thieves perfectly craft tension and release it into their songs. They’re masters at digging deep into not only their own souls, but into their audiences’ as well. If you’re looking for fierce passion and soul, look no further.
If you’ve never seen Company of Thieves live, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Marc absolutely shreds on guitar and is a pleasure to watch; Genevieve is one of the most awe-inspiring lead singers, you can’t look away. She dances, stomps around, bangs on her tambourine and belts the most unbelievable notes from her chest. Go see a show. Thank me later.
Track Listing:
1 Intro
2 Queen of Hearts
3 Modern Waste
4 Look Both Ways
5 Never Come Back
6 Nothing’s In The Flowers
7 Death Of Communication
8 King Of Dreams
9 Gorgeous/Grotesque
10 Syrup
11 Tallulah
12 Won’t Go Quietly
