Customer Reviews

Buck

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Amazon has this CD mixed up with another CD, by another band called Buck. Who also called their CD...Buck (as in, self-titled). I ordered this CD and did not get anything involving the wonderful Lisa Marr. Instead, I got a CD of turgid Christian Ska music. I'm not joking. Amazon needs to fix this.

I first saw Buck when they opened for Dance Hall Crashers, back in '99 I believe.I loved them at first site.This album is perfect; there is no one like Lisa Marr.The lyrics are witty, and the music tight.Unfortunately, Buck broke up.Lisa went on to form the Lisa Marr Experiment, an alt-country group."4AM", LMX's debut album is charming in its own way, but it doesn't have the bite that this Buck album did. I was happy to learn that Lisa teamed up with Kim Shattuck of the Muffs to form the Beards.Their debut album was released in '01, and it really rocks!! If you love Buck, you'll love the Beards(their album is, in my opinion, better than any of Lisa or Kim's other bands)...also,go out and buy the new LMX, Lisa Marr is an extremely talented musician, who deserves recognition and support.

As I write this review, I see that there's a used copy of Buck for sale. That's just wrong. I would sooner part with my awkward, geeky little body than this superlative CD. All exaggeration aside, Pepper and the Lisas have managed to make an album that is at once fun and ferocious, with infectious melodies and deliciously dark lyrics. Don't waste money on charitable donations or insulin for your mother. Buy this CD. But don't buy it used. We don't want to reward that one person who is giving up the perfect album, do we?

Quick Review: Excellent. Buy it. You won't be disappointed.

Expanded Review: Being a fan of the Vancouver all-girl trio Cub, I was eagerly awaiting the release of this album (Lisa Marr and Lisa G, formerly of Cub, are in this band). On first listen, I didn't quite know what to think. The sound is a bit "harder" than Cub. No doubt a reflection of their new member, guitarist Pepper, and their relocation to LA/Hollywood. Think of The Muffs (Lisa Marr is actually married to their bass player), but with a soft side. "The Suicide Pact" and "The Day I Died" are perhaps the two songs which show the Cub influence the most. Softer, bitter-sweet songs about love. But enough about Cub (although they are brilliant and you should check them out also!). Eventually, I took this album on its own terms and it has quickly become a favorite of mine. "Cesare Said" could easily be a huge hit, if only major radio stations would play it. It is quite possibly the catchiest song I've heard in awhile. "(She's In) Another World" sounds as if it would fit perfect in a remake of Fast Times At Ridgemont High. These are just two songs I have singled out. Just listen to the samples and you will see that they are all quite brilliant. If you like poppy-punk type bands, then you'll love Buck. By the way, I see that Amazon has song 13 listed as a bonus track. In actuality, it is the entire cd replayed on one track. Just thought you'd like to know.

P.S. Check out their 7" singles also. Check out their web-site for more information.

Buck, the Lisa Marr-led band, was great and this album is a big favorite of mine -- especially "Cesare Said" and "The Day I Died". I agree with most of the reviewers about the astonishing greatness of Lisa Marr, who I am sure will one day get the recognition she merits.

But Amazon has made a mistake here, putting up a bunch of samples from some other record. They should fix that.

I'm really slapping myself in the head for not paying attention to Lisa Marr's post-Cub band until it was too late to see them live...This record is absolutely amazing! If you go to the House Of Blues website and watch the archived Buck concert, you'll see just how incredibly "tight" and infectious they were live. In fact, if theres anything thats flawed about his record, its that it suffers from the same anemic production values that marred (pun intended) most of Cub's recorded history (most notably the absolutely terrible drum sounds). They also play the songs slower on this studio recording, which can be sort of anti-climactic after hearing their raucous live stuff.

But the songs themselves are punk-rock masterpieces. "Cuddle-core" this is not. In fact, I find Lisa's liberal usage of the naughty F-word on this record to be especially appealing, and downright erotic (especially on "American Express"). And "My Fascination" is DAMN intoxicating. Lisa has a truly unique and melodic voice which really sets her apart from ALL the boring "riot-grrrl" bands which she has often been (mistakenly) associated with.

Buy this...

Get it while you can. Unfortunately this and Buck's EP "Buck in Black" are the last things we'll ever hear from Buck. Yep, while the music lives on -- and let me tell ya, this CD is still one of my fave power-pop/punk-pop CDs -- the band has died. With no fanfare, the band called it quits, so if you haven't heard this CD yet, buy it now before it's all too late. Lisa Marr ain't doing this kind of thing again... her new group, the Lisa Marr Experiment is all country/pop, and while it can swing, she certainly has abandoned the kind of whip-saw, chugging tunage that fills this CD.

Saw Buck in Vegas, they rocked!! They have another CD called "Sympathy For The Record Industry". (As if.) Lisa can write and all can play. Good melodies with catchy hooks.

Ever since I bought this album last year it hasn't left my cd changer. I love it more and more each time I hear it. While it's not a radical departure from Cub's "Box of Hair," it certainly is a progression. While Lisa Marr's lyrics remain sharp and intelligent, she uses more of her vocal capabilities and sings in varied styles. The biggest difference between Buck and Cub, however, is in the guitar playing. Pepper Berry is simply amazing. After hearing so many albums by bands who just don't know how to write or record good power-pop / power-punk music, it's nice to see that someone has figured it out.

I give them my highest praise.

This album is rad. I saw Buck with the Muffs a couple months ago and I had to get the CD. They are really impressive.