The Neutrinos

Kissing and death are the subjects of this album. Puts one in mind of the fear you have as a young boy - that girl who drives you crazy at school with her smile and prettiness. But she scares you, because you've never kissed a girl before and you don't know how to do it. She'll laugh if you get it wrong - oh yes. They'll all laugh. You'd rather die than go through that.
Karen Reilly appears to be Shingai Noisettes' dangerously insane white half-sister, who's been locked in the attic, or a padded room, for a decade. The Neutrinos borrow similar trad-rock riffs and soulful vox.
Danger litters the album throughout: "His ex-girlfriend's falling apart... she's got a gun" ('Girlfriend's Got A Gun'), "Horsepills and dog meat" ('Horsepills'), and "You held his broken body/So happy that he wasn't breathing/And you squeeze the air right out of him..." ('Corpse'). Do not, on any occasion, get on the wrong side of this woman.
Valentine Mackie - Artrocker Magazine

Polly Jean Harvey had better watch her back, because she's got a formidable new rival ib The Neutrinos' Karen Reilly. This album's title quite rightly hints at Reilly's seductive vocal style, but just like Ms Harvey, she's also dark, haunting and occasionally twisted. The melancholy 'Horse Pills' finds the Norwich foursome in Portishead's lo-fi musical territory, but it's not long before Reilly is screaming like a banshee during the deranged garage-rock of "Eat My Hole'. These flipsides of the band's personality make for an addictive record. The Neutrinos are a thrilling band. Victoria Durham - Rock Sound Magazine August 2007

my karen will eat your lindsay by Cate Kustanczi

I've been thinking a lot about what constitutes 'rock and roll' lately, specifically as it applies to women.Does it mean poorly-behaved, too-rich-too-young, rehab-mocking, non-panty-wearing, irresponsibly-driving, spoiled-divaness, a la Paris/Nicole/Lindsay/etc? I have to wonder at the attention such ladies receive in popular media; it all seems like so much sound and fury signifying nothing, if you ask me. Does anyone even remember a tune from Paris the Album, or Speak? Is the world's collective breath being held for the release of the Richie spawn's debut? All mocking attempts at "art" aside, the great-party-animalisima label has worn thin. Even Warhol would admit their collective fifteen minutes are up.

So what does 'rock-and-roll' really mean as a female adjective? Is it partying and bad public behaviour? Really? That's it?

Lately I've felt like a bit of an old fart, bemoaning the lack of good female vocalists and musicians getting attention and gaining critical and commercial success for their hard-driving rhythms, songwriting abilities, lyrical brilliance, onstage aggression, and well, outrageousness hot-ness. If not all, at least a combination of therein would be good. Where's the Patti Smiths, the Debbie Harrys, the Joan Jetts? Oh, I know, those ladies are forever fabulous –they're still touring, writing, recording –but where's the next generation? Where's the will in the media to put the next generation out there into public consciousness?

I keep wondering if it's just me, or if I'm putting too much into this; am I showing my age, or is there really a noticeable lack of decent female rock ladies out there?

Well, as it turns out, no.

In seeing the excellent British band The Neutrinos lastnight, I can safely say that the rock-and-roll mistress position is doing just fine, thank you -as is good, loud rock and roll itself. Sure, there's imbibing involved, but there's also talent to back up the attitude –loud, proud, ferocious, and deadly sexy.

Karen Reilly, lead vocalist for The Neutrinos, is a rail-thin, slinky stage presence; lastnight's gigue at Toronto's Supermarket she was clad in cork platforms, hot pink leggings and an angular haircut to show off her high cheekbones. Smashing.

And lest you think I'm being sexist, I would describe any rock-guy's attire too -cause that's part-and-parcel of being rock-and-roll. I'm not naïve enough to think "it's all about the music, man". What would Elvis be without the '68 leather? The Beatles without the suits and moptops? Zeppelin without the hair and super-tight jeans? Slash without the hat? Or, dare I say, Cobain without the flannel? The anti-fashion statement became a defining rock and roll movement. Come now.

No, Karen is a woman in full command of her self, her art, and her femininity.

Vocally, she is a cross between Iggy Pop, PJ Harvey, Siouxsie Sioux, and Patti Smith; onstage, she exudes the wails, whimpers, moans, and grandiose belt-outs as befits any good rock-and-roll drama queen, minus the me-first tantrums. Watching her, I couldn't help but think, oh Courtney, this is your shoulda-coulda-woulda. A slinking theatrical presence, Karen darts, quivers, jumps, shakes, and at points possesses the wide-eyed imperious ferocity of a Durga in full battle mode, ready to lop off another male head amidst the chaotic rock and roll thunder The Neutrinos emit.

And what a sound it is. Recalling by turns The Stooges, The Pixies, PJ Harvey, early David Bowie, The Doors, and the classic blues masters, The Neutrinos are a force of nature live. Their music is steeped in the heavy sounds of the past and present, and they are deft in their songwriting and dramatic live performance.

Songs like Blood Red Lips and Donkey Work were loud and joyously raucous, though bandmembers Mark Travis Howe (guitar), Jon Banknote (bass) and Simon Morrison (drums), maintained a technique and consistency that were never out of balance with the drama inherent in their music and their lead lady's style. It is a credit to their level of musicianship and onstage confidence, that, while playing with such force and intensity, they were able to keep a playful attitude between themselves, their lead lady, and their audience.

The Supermarket crowd, while initially confused, and perhaps a bit intimidated by the sheer power of sound and roaring female presence, eventually came around. Guys hung back vaguely, beers in hand, unsure, while young women (a sight I was really happy to behold) bravely went up to the stage and well, rocked out. Hallelujah.

It would seem that in The Neutrinos' world, style and substance, as it applies to rock and roll, are one in the same.

Keep your eyes and ears out for The Neutrinos.

And the next time you need a definition of 'rock-and-roll' as it applies to women, never mind the girls, here's a woman. Her name is Karen. She will blow your ears o - Torontowide.com

"Throbbing art-punk noise and sexy urgent energy" - Time Out New York

"Led by the mesmerising Karen Reilly, it takes the band seconds to gain full attention. .... I always feel that if a band makes you want to buy their CD before their set is over, it's going to be good night. " - BBC online

"Manipulative leaders, mentors, lovers and losers populate the Neutrinos world of song" - Village Voice NYC

'Karen Reilly's voice - a Bulgarian Choir condensed into one throat' Melancholy Rhino - Melancholy Rhino

Cover your testicles, lads. Karen Reilly’s out with the scissors, repeating “build him till he breaks” with psychopathic numbness. In the background, the urgent, distorted thuds have that deadly Kills edge as they crescendo. - New Noise Net

"Girl-fronted bands are hip and this group is leading the pack. If the idea of PJ Harvey stuck in a Courtney Love-shaped hole screaming and hollering over taut, bluesy garage riffs gets you aroused, The Neutrinos will finish you right off. Hailing from Norwich, they record in a disused windmill and have a singer (Karen Reilly) who grew up on a pig farm. How hot are they? - Total Guitar