1372 Overton Park

Lucero (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Republic
• ASIN: B002NOYX3G
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,420 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Lucero's sixth studio album and major label debut, 1372 Overton Park, is produced by Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem) and featuring horn arrangements by legendary Memphis session player Jim Spake (Al Green, John Hiatt, Solomon Burke, Cat Power), the record marks a decided turn toward the Memphis soul sound that has long informed the band's records from afar. 1372 Overton Park follows the band's 2006 release, Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers, hailed by Pitchfork as "the best showcase for the band's taut dynamic yet." The new album's name comes from the address of the Memphis loft in which all four band members lived, practiced and even recorded portions of their 2003 release That Much Further West (the history of the space itself is even more colorful-- in the `70s, 1372 Overton Park was a karate dojo where local resident Elvis Presley, among others, took lessons). Over recent years band members have gradually moved out leaving lead singer and guitarist Ben Nichols the sole resident of the space until word finally came down that the building would be sold and demolished. Almost as if marking the end of an era not only for the building but for the band as well, this record turns the page and signals a strong move toward the Memphis soul sound that has long served as an influence for the group. Nichols explains, "When [saxophonist] Jim Spake put that first horn track down, we began thinking of the record as having a certain sound. We heard pieces of Memphis history being played over our songs and it floored us and we just went with it." While 1372 Overton Park serves as a love letter to Memphis and its musical heritage, the band has far from abandoned the country/rock/punk influences that they've become known for over their previous five records and countless tour dates in front of rabid fans. "I think the fact that we don't claim a genre is very important to what Lucero is," according to Nichols. "There are too many rules in punk rock. Too many rules in country music. We're hard headed and...god damn if we don't do things the way we want to do them." Playing between 150-200 live shows a year, Lucero has come to be known as much for their hard-touring work ethic as for their critically acclaimed records. In addition to his work with the band, lead singer Ben Nichols also released a solo record in early 2009 and co-stars in MTV's $5 Cover, a series about the Memphis music scene.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!, October 7, 2009

By 

Nathan A. Friedman "Nathan F." (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 1372 Overton Park (Audio CD)

To those of you who already love Lucero, this review is not for you. You have already bought this album, and are simply reading this review because you love Lucero too.

If you are new to this band, and you find yourself asking, "I wish I could find other bands that meet the high standards of Drive-By Truckers, The Bottle Rockets, or Ryan Bingham." Or if you are one of the many that thought great music has not been written in decades, please do yourself a favor and buy this album. You will love it, you will become a huge fan and buy all of their other albums, and you will ask yourself, "Why have I not heard of Lucero before."

There is no reason to talk about the tracks on this album or any Lucero album. Ben Nichols writes about booze, lost love, and the South. Once again, if you have come this far, and you like what you hearing, you will be eternally happy that you spent $10 on this album. You will be eternally happy that you spent $50 on their entire catalogue. You will just be happy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Horns? It wouldn't be the same without them, October 6, 2009

By 

P. Zarcone (Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1372 Overton Park (Audio CD)

I have to say that when I first heard about Lucero using horns in their songs for their new record, 1372 Overton Park, I was a bit curious and not entirely thrilled at the prospect.

Then I heard the demos and I still wasn't too thrilled, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined it might be.

Then I got the full CD and it all made sense. The songs wouldn't be the same without the horns or the organ. It might take a little while for some longtime Lucero fans to get used to, but I think it's a pretty good change of direction for the band.

For those worried about how they might sound now that they're on a major label, the good news is that they're pretty much the same Lucero that they've always been. Their sound has matured, but that's nothing new, really. Each album since "That Much Further West" has contained within some musical maturation, so the addition of horn arrangements is just the next step in the Memphis rock/soul direction.

Many of the songs are similar lyrically to other Lucero songs, but that's not really a bad thing if you're a fan of Ben Nichols' lyrics (or comics).

The top songs on the album (in my view) are: Smoke, What Are You Willing to Lose, The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo, Sixes and Sevens, Johnny Davis and Halfway Wrong. The weakest songs are probably Darken My Door and Hey Darlin' Do You Gamble? Keep in mind that by "weak" I really just mean they're not as great as the other songs; they're still better than 90% of the crap that passes for music today.

Overall, I really dig this new CD by Lucero and I think it might be their best one since 2003 and that's not knocking Nobody's Darlings or Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers, because both are awesome...1372 Overton Park is just better.

And if Lucero is going to be in your town this fall (and they probably will be), go see them. They put on an absolutely incredible show and anyone that has ever been knows what I'm talking about.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The horns fit!, October 22, 2009

By 

tubafish - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1372 Overton Park (Audio CD)

It seems as if some people are skeptical about Lucero including horns on this record. The manifestation horns is likely the result of the band having a proper advance to record the album. Sure, Universal/Republic has a ton of teabag scars decorating their chins, but their signing of Lucero is worthy of props.

This band is the real deal.
Good guys/good music.

If you've not previously heard how horns would be a natural extension of their sound, you might have missed a key ingredient.
Worry not.
The horns integrate seamlessly.

For newbies, this band is simply a reliable punk/country/rock band that works the circuit relentlessly with killer shows.
They pour their hear & soul into their gigs.

Hit the boys up at the gigs & buy the new guys (the horns) some drinks - hopefully their live sound is only recently suffering because of having to fit three new musicians into the mix (moreso than label influence.)

Loose and fast, boys - loose and fast!

Hey Universal/Republic, ever hear of A&R?
It's Artists and Repertoire.
You signed 'em, now do right by 'em!
Develop 'em...(and not to simply "move units")
Ya'll don't have the guts to stick by an act - an antiquated idea, eh?

Lust for the dollars, die by the dollar.

Sturdy songwriting, over time, pays dividends.