"It really sounds like THE LEMONHEADS. Maybe a little better." Evan Dando is getting a bit conspiratorial about the latest incarnation of the legendary pop/punk outfit he formed a full two decades ago, now about to unleas... more »h their eighth album on an unsuspecting and defenseless world. And how does this new release?the first for THE LEMONHEADS on Vagrant Records?compare to, say, Dando?s much-acclaimed solo work of the past few years? "Louder, faster, more like BUZZCOCKS pop-punk?and way less introspective." Talk about getting back to your roots. For the Vagrant offering, Dando convened two of his early influences?the unholy duo of drummer Bill Stevenson (DESCENDENTS, BLACK FLAG) and bassist Karl Alvarez (DESCENDENTS)?in a remote Rocky Mountain hideaway. And it was there, off and on over eighteen months, that they kicked out the first LEMONHEADS album in ten years. Said guitarist/singer/songwriter Dando of Stevenson and Alvarez, "I wanna make another loud record, and those are the guys to do it with." Dando and Stevenson co-produced the album, and Stevenson wrote or co-wrote three of its eleven songs; long-time Australian collaborator Tom Morgan added another two. And very much inna LEMONHEADS stylee, there?s cameos galore: from wunderkind bassist Josh Lattanzi ("Poughkeepsie", "Rule of Three", "In Passing"), certifiable rock giant Garth Hudson (THE BAND, who plays keyboards on "Black Gown" and "December"), and some real foot-on-monitor guitar work by DINOSAUR JR?s J. Mascis ("No Backbone", "Steve?s Boy").« less
"It really sounds like THE LEMONHEADS. Maybe a little better." Evan Dando is getting a bit conspiratorial about the latest incarnation of the legendary pop/punk outfit he formed a full two decades ago, now about to unleash their eighth album on an unsuspecting and defenseless world. And how does this new release?the first for THE LEMONHEADS on Vagrant Records?compare to, say, Dando?s much-acclaimed solo work of the past few years? "Louder, faster, more like BUZZCOCKS pop-punk?and way less introspective." Talk about getting back to your roots. For the Vagrant offering, Dando convened two of his early influences?the unholy duo of drummer Bill Stevenson (DESCENDENTS, BLACK FLAG) and bassist Karl Alvarez (DESCENDENTS)?in a remote Rocky Mountain hideaway. And it was there, off and on over eighteen months, that they kicked out the first LEMONHEADS album in ten years. Said guitarist/singer/songwriter Dando of Stevenson and Alvarez, "I wanna make another loud record, and those are the guys to do it with." Dando and Stevenson co-produced the album, and Stevenson wrote or co-wrote three of its eleven songs; long-time Australian collaborator Tom Morgan added another two. And very much inna LEMONHEADS stylee, there?s cameos galore: from wunderkind bassist Josh Lattanzi ("Poughkeepsie", "Rule of Three", "In Passing"), certifiable rock giant Garth Hudson (THE BAND, who plays keyboards on "Black Gown" and "December"), and some real foot-on-monitor guitar work by DINOSAUR JR?s J. Mascis ("No Backbone", "Steve?s Boy").
Smiley Smile | Boulder, CO United States | 09/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Remarkably Evan Dando,has brought back the Lemonheads after 10 years. More remarkably- the album they made is excellent. With edgy rockers,Bill Stevenson on drums & Karl Alvarez on bass- the Lemonheads manage to keep their old melodic rock sound yet also sound modern and edgy at the same time! The result is a CD that really rocks and is great fun to listen to.
My favorites on The CD are Rule of Three, the murderballad Baby's Home, the goth punk Black Gown,the heartfelt rocker Steve's Boy ,the near pychedelic closer December , and the slashing, wryly humorous political song Let's Just Laugh.
If you are a fan of the previous versions of the Lemonheads -you will like the 21st century version just fine. Buy it and enjoy!"
It's About Time...
j eastman | Minneapolis | 12/08/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Everything I liked about music in the 90's flew out the window when The Lemonheads "broke up" in 1998. Ok...I'm kidding, I mean, how can you break up a band that really consists of Evan Dando and whichever musician happens to be available in the studio at the moment?
As I am with most "comeback" or "reunion" albums, I was reluctant to buy the latest release - in fact, I was fully prepared to downright hate it. Although Mr. Dando has continued to create music, I was wondering how he'd be able to create the same magic found on the rather obtuse "Car Button Cloth" or the indie pop gem, "Shame About Ray". All my fears were erased after listening to the first few tracks this self titled release...the little record fits nicely in between those two...in fact, I'd happily discard "Come On Feel The Lemonheads" for this any day...
The album doesn't break much new ground, however - on that same note, it's not necessarily stagnant or dated - the music sounds fresh without sounding over produced. Evan's syrupy sweet voice hasn't aged a bit - he still sounds like your cooler older brother, as he sings about revenge on a cheating lover in "Baby's Home", or slyly smirks "If it's not fixed, don't break it" in the opening song, "Black Gown".
On "Become the Enemy" he sings, "It's not my fault, I never learned a trade"... and thankfully so, hopefully this album is not the last we'll hear from The Lemonheads...
"
Long lost Lemonheads
W. T. Ulrich | nyc | 05/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sounds like the Descendents w/ Evan Dando on lead vocals. Well, that's what it is! I'm pretty into it.
"
Hopefully many more to come....
Mr. Guy Somebody | Anytown, USA | 03/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't know if it's just a case of not listening to "the Lemonheads" in a while, but damn if this isn't the best record I heard in a long time. (And let's not diminish the contributions of the "non-Dando's" on this record).
This better not be the only album from this line-up. That would be a crime. (I would think the self-titling of this album means a new beginning)."
Short, sweet jangle pop
Deborah Akers | Southeastern U.S. | 02/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The newest Lemonheads album is, as others have mentioned, a true return to form. The songs are short and don't overstay their welcome. Great toe-tapping tunes that bring a smile to your face. I highly, highly recommend this album for both new and old fans."