Album Review: Hey Hey Cabaret (2012)

Frenchy and the Punk. If your head is filled with cogs and your heart is filled with steam, you'll know this amazing steampunk duo. They were nominated for "Best Band in 2012" for the SteamCon Airship Awards, "Best Band in 2013" for Steampunk Chronicle's Reader's Choice Awards, and made the "Top 25 Duos in the US" by Yahoo! Music Blog. The list of their accomplishments go on and on.

  
For those of you who don't know, Frenchy and the Punk is comprised of Samantha Stephenson (Frenchy; vocals, percussion, kazoo, and piano) and Scott Helland (The Punk; guitar, drums, vocals, bass, and "live looping" - and he looks pretty familiar to me for some reason). The duo was founded in 2005 and can be found in New York (when they're not touring or performing). They're labeled as "folk punk cabaret," but they're so much more than that. What I've found from listening to "Hey Hey Cabaret" is that the two flawlessly incorporate many sub-genres of steampunk into their music, creating a myriad of flavors for the listeners.

Track Listing

1. Hey Hey Cabaret
2. Silent Movie
3. Steampunk Pixie
4. Confession of Jack Bonnie and Sally Clyde
5. The Circus Parade
6. Birthday Fanfare
7. Le Chat Noir
8. Tie You Up
9. I'm Free
10. Lunar Frenzy
11. Make It Happen

Obviously, we can't discuss every track in great detail (no matter how much I want to), so, as is custom, we'll pick a few. For this review, we'll take a look at the headline track, "Hey Hey Cabaret," as well as "Confession of Jack Bonnie and Sally Clyde," "The Circus Parade," and "Le Chat Noir."

"Hey Hey Cabaret" is an upbeat number that inspires exuberant dancing wherever it is played. It's rated as the most popular song on the album, accounting for a majority of the downloads. Fans and newcomers alike will appreciate this punchy, frenzied track. Aside from this being the headlining track, it was an excellent choice for an opening song for the album. It quickly draws the listener in for a fun ride.
  
"Confession of Jack Bonnie and Sally Clyde" is my second favorite track on the album. I was surprised to see that it didn't have many downloads from Amazon.com. This song features a solo verse from the Punk that is pretty amazing. He seems to really get into character with it and portrays the emotion of the moment exactly as you'd expect. It's clear from this track that they are no amateurs.

  

"The Circus Parade" is my personal favorite. This mostly instrumental song is the epitome of neogypsy (occasionally annexed into neobedouin) steampunk, my favorite form; it breathes life into this passionate and often overlooked subclass. When performed live, Frenchy and the Punk encourage you to become a dancing circus. At once, you're sucked into a world of vibrant color and attempted belly dancing. It's a lot of fun whether you're hearing it live or simply sitting in your car. 

"Le Chat Noir" is the song all of us try to sing and end up failing miserably. As the title implies, this song is performed in French, in smooth tones and light acoustic guitar. It is the sirens' song of the steampunk world, luring your airship to dangerous landscapes of immense beauty. This song is the second most popular download for the album, and rightfully so.

When all is said and done, Frenchy and the Punk are undeniably a pillar of the steampunk community, and will be for many years to come. If you haven't seen them perform yet, you're in luck! Fall tour dates have been announced! Whether by headphone, speaker, or live event, Frenchy and the Punk will show you what steampunk is all about!

Ninja Fish thinks this is great music to... drive cross-country with.

Album Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Band Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

All images borrowed courtesy of Google images. All videos are credit to the YouTube account on which they are featured, and all performances are credited to Frenchy and the Punk and E. A. Recordings.