Search - Lemonheads :: Lovey

Major Label Debut not so Sour

Black Trees | Canada | 10/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Lemonheads got screwed. They got screwed by the media. They got screwed by the biz. They got screwed by the fickle public. When Evan Dando seized control of the group from former leader, Ben Deily, it gave him an opportunity to unleash some truly brilliant pop songs on the general public. The general public responded by only paying attention to their rocked out version of Mrs. Robinson. It was truly the public who missed out. If you love great song writing, pick up Lovey. This album is before the fuss. If you are not moved by the song "Ride With Me", I'm afraid you're dead inside. How many people in the history of Rock n' Roll have written a love song to a discarded kitchen stove? What is a better way to say goodbye to the listener than the closing song "(The) Door"? The production value isn't as slick as their later releases, but the songs are understated monuments of pop brilliance."

Hard not to love "Lovey"

Sal Nudo | Champaign, Illinois | 05/12/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Lovey" opens with a group of cheerleaders cheering enthusiastically, which devolves to pained screaming, which leads to some rocking music. When the instruments come together in unison, after a purposely sluggish start, a great tune, and eventually a great album, kicks in. On "Ballarat" and other tunes, Evan Dando sounds similar to Kurt Cobain, during a time when hardly anyone knew who Cobain was. And that's certainly fitting, given that this album represents a burst of creative rock 'n' roll energy during the early 1990s.



"Lovey" features several great tunes: "Half the Time" is a sweet, mid-tempo tune that's sugary but not lightweight. "Ride With Me" also contains a feathery sound, sweet and harmonic, but with a tinge of grittiness that supplements Dando's sometimes bored and wary aura. Though many of his vocals are mumbled, you've got to love Dando's childlike, everyday lyrics that simultaneously manage to convey humor and the weight of the world. "Lovey's" coolest song is "Li'l Seed," a rocker where Dando and his friends take a stand on a subject near and dear to their hearts. (Hint: the seed of which they speak ain't for growing corn). Guest musician Corey Loog Brennan plays an awesome guitar solo on "Li'l Seed," and contributes on "(The) Door." "Stove" follows an endearingly simple formula, and is gone before you realize how great it was.



These tunes vary in sound from dreamy to mosh-ready. At times, the lively instrumentation is a hyper contrast to Dando's indifferent baritone, and there's a coolness and substance to these songs that prevent them from ever going out of style. Some may find The Lemonheads forgettable; I find them irresistable."

Great Starter For Mellower Lemonheads Era

F. Nava | Texas USA | 01/15/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It seems that Lemonheads fans are split into two categories: Pre-"Lovey" and Post-"Lovey."



Pre-"Lovey" had the band in a harder, more punkish style.



Post-"Lovey" had the band in a mellower, more melodic pop style.



It was not until the following album, "It's A Shame About Ray," that the band was pushed into headliner status. However, one can see that it was "Lovey" where the transition took place, bridging both eras. A little hard in some places (though not as hard as earlier stuff) and a little pop in other places.



Whether you love the older or later versions of the band, "Lovey" is a good album, but, in my opinion, not as good as what was yet to come (as I am in the group that prefers the later Lemonheads)."