Once upon a time many, many years ago, in a land lost in legend, oh all right it was in Seattle and it was only ten years ago, a band was born. Taking their name from a line in The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Poor Old Lu was born. After releasing a number of well received albums, the members of the group disbanded to pursue the greener pastures of solo careers. Bassist, Nick Barber and guitarist Aaron Sprinkle started Rose Blossom Punch and drummer Jesse Sprinkle moved to New York to explore the World Inside, vocalist, Scott Hunter kept a low profile. Flash forward to 2001 and the rumors of a reunion and a new album are flying far and wide. I got a chance to see the band perform at Purple Door 2001 and to say that they had not lost any of their fire is a complete understatement. It would be awhile before the new album called appropriately, The Waiting Room would see the light of day from that summer 2001 performance but the wait was well worth it.
This, the newest addition to the Poor Old Lu collection is very possibly their best effort yet. All of the songwriting credits go to the band collectively, and if this is so then the years apart have not hurt these guys at all it has only made them stronger. When these guys first appeared on the scene a decade ago, they were one of the best and most adventurous bands around, time has not diminished that fire at all. It is as if they had never stopped playing together at all.
Scott Hunter's voice is in fine form here and the rest of the band Jesse, Aaron and Nick play together like a well oiled machine. The main production credits go to Aaron Sprinkle and Poor Old Lu, the recording was done at Compound Recording in Seattle. It is this feeling of being comfortably back home that is one of the reasons that make this a great album. The writing and playing is top notch as well. Welcome home guys, we missed you.
5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #99Reviewed by Brian Quincy NewcombThe return of Washington-state alternative rockers Poor Old Lu, after the obligatory releases of a best-of (Chrono (1993-1998)) and a farewell concert recording (In Their Final Performance), should be no real surprise to Easter people. We should be getting used to resurrection by now. Still, in the world of pay-to-play Christian rock, one figures that sooner or later it's no longer going to be…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Matt ModrichSix years have passed since Poor Old Lu retired after Picture of the Eighth Wonder. Still, The Waiting Room seems like the band has only been in Narnia while no time has passed in the real world. The Waiting Room picks up where the last record left off. Tracks like "Now," "Crushed," "Crowded," and "The Waiting Room" are the hits, but the others aren't too shabby. Some of the songs just take a…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Keith GilesThe wait is over. Fans of Poor Old Lu will be thrilled to know that, not only has this talented band re-formed, they've also just released the most cohesive, evocative and passionate new recording in their "off-again, on-again" history. After nearly five years, hearing the opening strains of the album's first cut, "Revolve" is like getting a phone call from an old friend or a letter from a lost…Similar sounding releases
2003The Prayer ChainHere Comes the Rust
2002RushVapor Trails
2003BleachAstronomy
1995Adam AgainPerfecta
2002SilverchairDiorama
1996Seven Day JesusThe HungerMore from Poor Old Lu
1992Star Studded Super Step
1998Chrono (1993-1998)
1996A Picture of the Eighth Wonder
1998In Their Final Performance
1993Mindsize
