Friday, October 9, 2009

Album Review: "1372 Overton Park" by Lucero

Somehow it snuck up on me: Lucero released another album.


“1372 Overton Park” was released this week and it is good.



The album isn’t as dark as the last record, 2006’s “Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers” but still definitely has that Lucero sound. Ben Nichols’ gravely voice that can be picked out in any situation sounds a little more produced this time around, at moments, but the familiarity is sill there. The production is done by Ted Hutt, who also produced Chuck Ragan and the same sound is audible, so if you dig "Feast or Famine", the same feel is on the album.


Lyrically, most of the songs are about a lost love, along with some story songs, such as the opener, “Smoke” and, as the title suggests a story to go along with it, “The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo”. The latter even has a Hold Steady feel with the story about what can only be described as a crazy night.



“Darken My Door” is one of the heartbreaking tracks near the end of the album that particularly stands out, reliving how “there’s no finer mess to be found”. The relationship issues carry their way through the rest of the album on songs “Can’t Feel A Thing” and “Half Way Wrong”, which lets it be known “Too many nights of fighting/it ain’t worth it anymore/Too many nights of chasing you around downtown/ Too many night of me not even being around”.

The quick, fast review I have on this record: There's lots of horns on the record. The record does what, I feel, is crucial to having a productive music career: steps are taken to do something new with the music still sounding like the same band. Good call, guys.
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If you want to check out the new Lucero tunes live, tonite (Friday) at Next Big Nashville they're playing at Cannery Ballroom. It's $15 in advance or at the door or free with any wristbands/NBN passes. Hope to see you there!

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