The Lost Archives Surfacing the reviews of our forgotten youth
    Back to The Lost Archives
    The Phantom Tollbooth 2004/Aaron Sprinkle
    Aaron Sprinkle — Lackluster cover

    Aaron Sprinkle

    Lackluster

    (2004)

    Reviewed by Trae Cadenhead

    DiscogsApple MusicTIDALAmazon MusicSpotifyYouTube Music
    Label Tooth & Nail RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2004
    indie rockpop rocksinger-songwriter

    For many years Aaron Sprinkle was known as being the guitar player for Christian alternative rock band Poor Old Lu. Since then he has moved on to produce albums for several bands and start a solo career of his own. Sadly, few people realize that Aaron Sprinkle has released three albums thus far in his career: Moontraveler, The Kindest Days, and Bareface. Now Sprinkle has signed to Tooth & Nail where he should find much better distribution. Lackluster is his first release on this label.

    Those who are unfamiliar with Aaron Sprinkle are definitely in for a treat with Lackluster. The album compiles some of his best work from his first three releases, plus a brand new song. Many of the songs are re-mixed and one has new vocals. For the newcomer, the standout tracks will be abundant as virtually every song is a musical treat from this rootsy, intelligent songwriter. Most of the tracks use acoustic guitar, but also feature a full band.

    For the longtime Aaron Sprinkle listener, it may be a bit more difficult to justify making the purchase of this album with only one song that he hasn't been released before. For me, the album served as a great reminder of why I liked Sprinkle's music in the first place. The official count is four songs from Moontraveler("Solace," "Not All Bad," "A Friend I Had," and "What Sorry Could Be"), three songs from The Kindest Days ("The Kindest Days," "Not About To," and "Genevieve"), six songs from Bareface ("Really Something," "Sweeter Than Me," "All You Can Give," "Colorblind," "Let Me In," and "The Boy Who Stopped the World"), and one new song ("Pillbox"). Of course, it can be argued that several great songs from the past were overlooked here, but this isn't necessarily a best of.

    As I understand it, the chief purpose of Lackluster is to get Aaron Sprinkle into a broader market. The songs found on here should be just what the doctor ordered to hook new listeners to Sprinkle's original, honest work.

    4 tocks

    Other coverage for this album

    Decapolis May 2004Reviewed by Phil NicholsAaron Sprinkle is relatively well known in music today. If you are not specifically familiar with him you have probably heard of some of the artists he has been involved with. Aaron first entered the scene playing in bands like Poor Old Lu and Rose Blossom Punch. After a few albums, and a fair amount of touring, Aaron took up a job as chief engineer for Tooth and Nail Records. Since then, Aaron…The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Bob FelbergOkay, by now you have read the name Aaron Sprinkle on several of the CDs in your collection like Kutless and Thousand Foot Krutch. You might even know that he and his brother Jesse started the now defunct band, Poor Old Lu in the mid '90's. What you may not know is that Aaron Sprinkle has a vibrant recording career as well. Didn't know that? Well, don't feel bad. Sprinkle himself must have…

    Similar sounding releases

    2005Patrick AndrewThere and Then It's Gone2000Howie DayAustralia2001Eric PetersLand of the Living1998SemisonicFeeling Strangely Fine2000The Grapes of WrathField Trip2004Andy ZipfI Stole the Morning Sun

    More from Aaron Sprinkle

    2001Bareface2000The Kindest Days1999Moontraveler

    Also in The Phantom Tollbooth 2004

    2004Dave BainbridgeVeil of Gossamer2004Various ArtistsAbsolute Smash Hits2004Michael MisiukMe and My Shadow2004Glass HarpStark Raving Jams2003GasHeadLandSpeedRecord2001Eve's DropOne of Many Goodbyes