Recent release:Lucero-Women And Work

Lucero-Women and Work

For those not familiar, Lucero is an alternative country band from Memphis Tennessee. Over the course of their nine studio albums they have moved from an alt country/punk sound to the current country soul of Women and Work. The mere fact that a band in a musical category that can be so pigeon holed and resistant to change-by its own fans-can be allowed to grow and evolve is an extraordinary achievement. This makes Lucero one of the more interesting bands out there and a new release is always highly anticipated. Each album is a little bit different, building on the record before it. The trouble is, sometimes they miss the mark.

So what about the new record then? Well, as mentioned the punk leanings are not on display here, except in look and attitude, which is quite noticeable. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it is missed. However, much of what makes the Lucero sound is still very much intact. Songs of longing, survival, frustration and the tetemporary  fix? Check. Whiskey and cigarette vocals? Check. Whiskey drenched music? Check. Honest, from the gut lyrics? Check. So what's missing? Fire.

Every song on Women and Work is good, none are great. This is troubling because so many of them should be. The whole thing just sounds a little lax, like the band never quite found their groove. Maybe the sessions went on too long and the guys just got burned out. Or maybe they were trying too hard for a certain sound they never achieved. Perhaps Lucero are trying to reach that well deserved mass audience that 2009's excellent 1372 Overton Park inexplicably didn't deliver. I don't know what the reason is, but this material just falls a little flat.

Again, the songs are good. There are many bright spots, but nothing really shines. It may be a good place to start, and I am certain to revisit this disc.  It's a great nightcap to a long day, and a good way to ease yourself into the morning after. I guess the long and short of it is that Lucero could do better, but you could do a whole lot worse.

Key songs: On My Way Downtown, Women And Work, Juniper, When I Was Young, Like Lightning.

31/2 Daves

visit http://luceromusic.com/