Over the last six years or so, Orlando-based emo indie-rockers Henrietta have made a big name for themselves touring all over the US with the likes of Gillian Carter and Basebourne and opening for acts such as Balance and Composure and Man Overboard, all of this before even releasing a full length album. Their long-awaited debut The Trick is Not Minding is out now via Animal Style Records, and it perfectly encompasses everything that fans have come to love Henrietta for.
What’s so great about The Trick is Not Minding is the same thing that caught my attention when I saw the band open for Balance and Composure a year ago—the music moves you without being too “in your face”. Everything about this album is simple yet so fulfilling, and that says a lot about something that’s been in the works for six years.
The album starts off slow with “Give Up Kid”. Starting from a subtle duet consisting of guitar and vocals, the song builds to an explosive and moving chorus. The energy carries into “2000 Miles” and “Constantinople”. Both tracks do enough to hold your attention without being too overbearing, and this is what the band does best on The Trick is Not Minding.
“Brutus” serves as the album’s vocal centerpiece and is almost completely polar opposite to the first half of the album; it’s a perfect interlude. It really allows you to hear the full range of Manny Urdaneta’s vocals and it even admittedly left me feeling a little heart broken with the conclusion “You’ll forget me soon”.
Just as soon as your heart is torn out “Leave It Alone” pumps out more simple and melodically sound songwriting. The Trick is Not Minding closer “Orions” lets you hear a little more of the fantastic musicianship and is yet another reminder why Henrietta are the best at what they do. Group vocals close the album and I can’t help but feel extremely anxious to hear more.
The Trick Is Not Minding is the perfect summertime soundtrack, and seeing that it’s summer in Florida year-round, I think I will be enjoying this record for a very long time to come. Hopefully we will see more from Henrietta sooner rather than later, but if it takes six years to write something this perfect again then I’m all for the wait.
RATING: 5/5