This post originally started out as a review of The Killers new disc and how I felt that they had done The Boss a disservice by mentioning his name during their press junkets for their new disc. Simply singing about highways and utilizing worn cliches doesn’t put you in The Boss’ stratosphere.
As I was having dinner with the family this evening, I put on Lucero’s Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers. I don’t know if it is the fact that I love these guys, had Bruce on the mind or have just plain not been getting enough sleep since the twins were born, but this is a band that reminds me of Bruce. By no means do they sound like Bruce, but the fourth song on the disc, “I Can Get Us Out Of Here Tonight” really struck a chord with me. Starting with the first verse “Jenny lights her cigarette/ Wonders how she got in this mess/Saturday night - wrong side of the bed,” the lyrics sound like something Bruce would write. The chorus follows suit but then towards the end of the song after an excellent guitar solo, the song ends with Ben Nichols singing the final verse over a simple piano much like The Boss with “The Professor” Roy Bittan.
Lucero’s earlier albums were tremendous, but this album has seen them clearly take a major step to the next level. Ben Nichols sounds as if he just washed down a bucket of rusty nails with Jack Daniels but good god. If he isn’t Patterson Hood’s equal I don’t know who is. Every word out of his mouth is filled with emotion and heartfelt sentiment that is not often heard in today’s music. Lucero has always had a great sound, very full but I believe the addition of keys and piano provided by Rick Steff and their natural progression as musicians has allowed them to round out their music in a much more complete sound.
From the haunting and driving “The Weight Of Guilt” with its ominous chorus, “If You Can Bear No Cross, You Can Wear No Crown”; the slow build of “1979” singing of a lost love and “nights so long, that they kill a man..” to the gentle final song “She Wakes When She Dreams” this is one of top albums of 2006.
Maybe before Brandon Flowers takes on such a big project next time he should check out a few Lucero discs and watch the amazing Dreaming In America that shows the growth and struggles of a real band. I grew up on The Boss and he is an American icon with very few peers. Lucero, while obviously not one of them, are a band I feel he would be proud of and enjoy listening to.
Lucero Acoustic in St. Louis
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I thought Tennessee would be a hard album to top, but Lucero did it. I purchased it for my trip to Seattle and can’t stop listening. Thanks for the recommendation.
im not sure what indie rock is but i know for that lucero is one of the best bands i have ever heard and to top it off they write their own songs. i cant hear enough
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