Lucero is a name that has been floating around for a while with mostly positive connotations. Indeed, some of their accolades are pretty impressive. Many major magazines have been throwing their name around. You can't blame me for having high expectations for this album. They promised me southern indie rock, and they gave me indie southern rock. (Dare I say that there is a difference between the to labels.)
Even though Lucero delivers southern rock, regardless of where you place the indie, the results are mixed. Their bad songs (and there are too many of them) sound like the music of Third Day crossed with the vocals of Drive-By Truckers. The good songs ditch that Third Day drag in favor of something more upbeat and less derivative. Unfortunately, those songs are few and far between and feature some vocals that sound like their singer took a nail file to his throat while singing.
Perhaps the greatest disappointment in this CD is the lack of energy on the recording. Instead of listening to something with kick it feels too much like dormant power that could come alive at any time, but fails to. It plays too safe.
This CD is performed solidly and has promising bright spots. Indeed, a few songs might even get in the running for a mix tape. Overall, however, it just disappoints. Some people will enjoy this, and that's fine. The band is tight and delivers what they are trying to deliver. However I recommend most people check out Drive-By Truckers instead.
1.5/4
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