If you could melt vinyl copies of the Stones' Exile on Main Street and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Second Helping and reform the wax to create one record, it might sound something like this one by Lucero, the Memphis foursome which ... more »enlisted the renowned Jim Dickinson (Big Star, The Replacements) to produce its fourth release. Led by a dual-guitar framework and the double-bourbon-on-the-rocks vocals of Ben Nichols, who manages to balance the lucidity of Jay Farrar with the garbled tongue of Shane McGowan, the band effortlessly melds its Southern rock trappings with pure punk riffs. While ballads such as "Hold Me Close" and "Nobody's Darling" are invigorating, the band's calling card lies in muscle-bound rockers like "Noon As Dark As Night" and "Watch It Burn." Nichols can belt out believably about a first time in love ("Sixteen") or being drafted to war ("The War") with equal aplomb to tipping back a few too many ("Last Night In Town") or bailing out of Dixie for the West Coast ("California"). --Scott Holter« less
If you could melt vinyl copies of the Stones' Exile on Main Street and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Second Helping and reform the wax to create one record, it might sound something like this one by Lucero, the Memphis foursome which enlisted the renowned Jim Dickinson (Big Star, The Replacements) to produce its fourth release. Led by a dual-guitar framework and the double-bourbon-on-the-rocks vocals of Ben Nichols, who manages to balance the lucidity of Jay Farrar with the garbled tongue of Shane McGowan, the band effortlessly melds its Southern rock trappings with pure punk riffs. While ballads such as "Hold Me Close" and "Nobody's Darling" are invigorating, the band's calling card lies in muscle-bound rockers like "Noon As Dark As Night" and "Watch It Burn." Nichols can belt out believably about a first time in love ("Sixteen") or being drafted to war ("The War") with equal aplomb to tipping back a few too many ("Last Night In Town") or bailing out of Dixie for the West Coast ("California"). --Scott Holter
"Maybe it's because all their songs remind me of when I got in a fight, got drunk, fell down, fell in love, fell outta love, wore a leather jacket, looked at books on motorcycles, enlisted, traveled the south, moved to California, got a tattoo, bought a guitar, smoked cigarettes, had whiskey for breakfast, ate desert lizard and watched the road to nowhere unfold in front of me. Or maybe it's because these guys sound like ZZ Top's first album on every one of their albums. Whatever it may be, it's what good
rock n roll is suppose to do: Rock, and remind me of all the good things I've done."
Still Not Their Full Potential
Chris Conlan (BreakingCustom.com) | Iowa | 06/14/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Review by Ray Harkins:
Something just doesn't feel right when the word "country-alt" rolls off of someone's tongue when used to describe a band that falls under the indie/punk/hardcore umbrella that we all hold so dear. It feels like you just admitted that you bought the new Dave Matthews band disc, which everyone knows is a crime in and of itself (but I guess 450,000 people didn't think so and bought that record the first week).
Lucero feels right in that way when you first take off your shoes after a long day at work. Familiar and comfortable, these gents from Tennessee (yep, they are not posers) took many people by surprise when their 3rd full length That Much Further West garnered them in the middle of a major label bidding war after winning over the hearts and minds of kids that were into Senses Fail as well as Lucero.
Nobody's Darlings is their major label debut (on their own imprint of East West) and unfortunately, it falls surprisingly flat. It sounds like someone just had them deflated in the recording studio and never bothered to pick them back up. Notwithstanding, the song quality is still outstanding and still retains that grit and candor that Lucero has made themselves known for.
The bottom line with this record is that Lucero still shows they have so much untapped potential that is unfortunately not all realized at once on tape."
Straight up Southern Rock.
Oh god | Shafter, Ca | 05/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lucero never lets a man down. Whether I am driving to nowhere or drinking myself retarded, these guys provide my soundtrack. I've made an ass of myself so many times to so many girls after getting drunk and listening to this CD. If you get a chance to see these guys live, do what you can to take it. Not to be missed. They played a 2 1/2 hour set last time I saw them. There isn't a harder working band out there right now."
The winning streak continues for this underrated band
Charles Knight | ny, ny USA | 08/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Can these guys do no wrong?
Four and a half stars. As they evolve more toward raw rock and away from their country leanings, Lucero return with another ass kicking album of raucous rockers and beer-soaked ballads. Nichols communicates longing and heartache with a gravelly force of nature voice that makes you almost smell the alcohol on his breath.
Not as great as their last two, but as great as their first eponymous album.
This is real music made by real artists. Nichols' gift for penning melody combined with the band's muscular delivery continues to astound.
Keep it up fellas. You guys deserve to be famous."
Lucero is the 2nd best band in the USA
Gabe Sullivan | Little Rock, AR | 11/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ben has an amazing talent for lyrical explination.. These guys are creating new sound while managing to hold onto their roots in the SOUTH....Just behind Old 97s, Lucero is bound for glory!"