RIYL: The Wallflowers, Wilco, Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
Lucero and lead-singer Ben Nichols channel a sound that hearkens back to the early days of Memphis country, blues and rock on their latest release “Women and Work”. A relentless touring band, Lucero consistently plays upwards of 150 shows a year, and “Women and Work” is the bands eighth studio release. Anchored by Nichols’ grizzled vocals and a plethora catchy guitar hooks, Lucero has put out consistently great material since their founding in 1998 and seem to be always bubbling just below the surface of greater notoriety.
The group landed a 4 record deal with big-name label Universal Music Group in late 2008, giving faithful fans hope that their boys might soon hit the big time. Unfortunately, the Universal deal proved short-lived, yielding only one release, 2009’s “1372 Overton Park”, but Lucero continued to hone their sound and the horn section that cropped up on “1372” is used heavily on “Women and Work”.
The album starts with a solid one-two punch as ‘Downtown (Intro)’ and ‘On My Way Downtown’ set pensive and celebratory moods using honky-tonk piano, jangly guitars, organ and catchy rock riffing. “I aint lookin’ for forever/ I aint askin’ for your hand,” Nichols promises, “I’m just on my way downtown/ and I thought I’d take a chance.”
‘It May Be Too Late’ is another keeper, and finds Nichols making the best of his downheartedness, valiantly pining for a woman above a rousing horn section. “I Cant Stand To Leave You”, however, is a more sobering take on loneliness, recalling the unfettered sadness of vintage Lucero classics like ‘My Best Girl’ and ‘Wandering Star’. “I can’t take the weight of this world on my own,” Nichols sings, “I don’t think I can make it all alone.”
But rest assured, there’s always a morning after in Lucero’s world, another road to travel, another bar to entertain and another chord to strum. ‘Sometimes’ rounds out this strong set of songs with Nichols spinning a poignant homage to life in the South amidst slide guitar and a flood of organ and piano. “Buried in the same dirt that they worked all those years/ All the sons and fathers/ All that went before”, Nichols confesses, “I hear it when it’s quiet, right outside my door.”
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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.luceromusic.com
