It's a little weird to be reviewing this now, since I'm one of the lucky few to have owned it for a couple years already. Long a highly searched-for underground release, it's now being re-released for fans after the band's demise. Joy!
The 24 tracks on the disc are split into two parts--the first 10 being their original demo and the latter 14 being some more demo tracks and "have-fun-in-the-studio" type stuff. Of the first 10 demo songs, six are previously unreleased, three are on Mindsize, and one is on Sin ("Cannon Fire Orange"). The latter 14 tracks consist of three more unreleased songs (one of them done with two different mixes), four more Mindsize demos, and six tracks of humor and half-songs. The unreleased songs might as well have been on Mindsize, though, since they feature the same groovy, psychedelic Seattle fuzz 'n wah guitar tones, distinctive vocals, cool percussion/drumming, and retro basslines. The demo-quality production, while definitely above average, matches well with the band's looseness here to give them more of a late 60s/early 70s sound than any of their other albums.
All in all, this is well worth purchasing, especially for those who enjoyed Poor Old Lu's first couple albums. This type of material (demo reissues/bootleg/live stuff) often disappoints me, but the amount of unreleased material here and differing details in the familiar songs make this an exception to the rule (otherwise I would have sold it when I could have gotten big bucks for it). Good stuff.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Puddlegum 1998Reviewed by Kevin FlickIt is very odd to have a chance to review this album in 1998. In order to fully appreciate Star Studded Super Step, you need to know a piece of the story laying behind this collection of songs. It is true, that this is Poor Old Lu's latest release. Yet it isn't exactly new because Star Studded Super Step was originally recorded in 1992. The four guys of Poor Old Lu were still in high school…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Mark AylorOkay all you Poor Old Lu fans that have searched the world over for a copy of Star-Studded-Super-Step and were willing to pay outrageous prices for it just to make your collection complete . . . here is your chance to get one hot off the press. Or if you were just curious how Poor Old Lu sounded in the beginning, but didn't hold a hope of getting your hands on this rare gem, now you can find out…The Conqueror Worm Jun/Jul 1995Reviewed by argyllethis re-release of their demo is a nice lil' treat for the mealy $10 (i think) it cost me. available directly from poor ol lu only, this disc has the 10 song demo with 14 bonus tracks. and almost all of them are songs too! nice, fun, funky, alternative rock highlights include "cannon-fire orange (does anyone understand this song?)" "puddlegum," "a snowfallen dessert," "in love with the greenery…Similar sounding releases
2000FringeFor the Vagabond Believer
1997Spooky TuesdayHappy Dissonance
1995Sign of the TimesDisengage
1996The Mustard SeedsThe Mustard Seeds
Clash of SymbolsSunday Is An Altogether Different Proposition
1998BumblepuppyAn Evening at the FeeliesMore from Poor Old Lu
2002The Waiting Room
1993Mindsize
1998Chrono (1993-1998)
1998In Their Final Performance
1996A Picture of the Eighth Wonder
