Reviewed
by Richard Klin
06.21.05
The Zincs are the musical brainchild of Londoner-turned-Chicagoan
Jim Elkington. Moth and Marriage, The Zincs debut, was in essence a solo
project as Elkington—alone—handled each and every instrument.
On the eclectic Dimmer, the second release to bear the band’s
name, the Zincs have gelled into a full-fledged ensemble and present a
poetic, strangely evocative musical alloy. Comparisons to the vaunted
Velvet Underground are almost de rigueur these days, but frontman Elkington
possesses a bona-fide Reedy timbre. The Zincs successfully negotiate the
subtle craft of sounding both minimalist and lush, without a trace of
oxymoron. One especially happy surprise: Making a comeback appearance
on the album is that venerable prog-rock staple, the mellotron.
“Beautiful Lawyers” and “The Moment is Now!” should
be the likely candidates for heavy rotation, but there’s not a misfire
anywhere on the entire album. “New Thought” is a valuable
reminder that folk music is far from a lifeless exercise in mellow nostalgia.
And no wasted words, either. Elkington’s lyrics are literate and
deadpan funny, tackling, among many themes, ennui: “Drink in the
afternoon/Nothing’s going to happen soon.”
The grab-bag of musical influences are on display for all to hear, but
Dimmer isn’t derivative in the slightest. Elkington is
a true singer-songwriter—another overused term getting a proper
application. In today’s musical climate of flash and commodity,
the Zincs stand out as very genuine and equally promising.
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