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The Crayon Theatrical: Self-Titled
[Scabby Brooks]

Home recording is something of a tradition in Ohio.  GBV, who definitely brought this technique to the masses, hail from Dayton. And not too far away from there is Lebanon, Ohio, the home of Michael Homyk, who records under the name The Crayon Theatrical.  In the interest of full disclosure, I am from Dayton and will always have a certain amount of prejudice in favor of music from Ohio, especially southern Ohio.  This prejudice has definitely tempered my reaction to The Crayon Theatrical, though it has not significantly changed my opinion. 

Homyk plays music that falls somewhere between Pink Floyd and Sebadoh, lightly psychedelic but folksy and DIY.  Intuitively this seems like a bad combination, and as often happens, my intuitions were proved right this time.  The problem is not so much with the songs, as they are generally well-written and some are very good; it is rather with the arrangement that often gets in the way of the song instead of helping it.  This is always a danger in home recorded solo records, because without the band to temper impulses and without studio costs to focus experimentation, sometimes the music can become a little indulgent and unfocused.  The Crayon Theatrical is definitely unfocused.  The music rambles about, stopping here and there, while the songs move on aimlessly into oblivion.  If you are into that type of thing, you will like this album.

This album can be purchased at the Scabby Brooks

The Crayon Theatrical Official Website

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