"For the Posers" is distinguished by its combination of straight-ahead rock instrumentation and smarter-than-usual-lyrics. Statland proves to be an astute observer of society and human nature..." -- Billboard Bagazine
NYCSmoke takes their inspiration from the New York City streets they call home and have just released their debut album, "For the Posers," available on their web site, www.NYCSmoke.com.
Statland was originally signed to RCA in 1997 with his New York City based rock band THIN LIZARD DAWN. The group subsequently recorded three ablbums and toured the country extensively with acts like Lenny Kravitz and The Verve Pipe.
While in Thin Lizard Dawn, Statland continued to pursue a variety of musical interests with a project called Low Flame. This solo effort resulted in two self-produced lo-fi albums; Slave to the Party and Low Flame; the latter being the score to his independent film of the same name written and directed by Statland.
In fact, it was Low Flame that caught the attention of renowned composer, Philip Glass. Glass and Statland would go on to collaborate on music for films.
NYCSmoke is made up of Statland, Jon Weber (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) on drums, Martin Ewens (Big Mouth) on bass, and Rob Perez (Anxiety) on guitar.
For the Posers is a well-crafted, hard-hitting, straight-up rock n' roll album without any of the pretentiousness we've grown accustomed to these days.
With equal doses of sincerity, cynicism and melodic sensibility, Howie Statland and NYCSmoke challenge "the posers" and… anyone else who will listen
