Customer Reviews

Here Comes the Zoo

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I waited forever for the new Local H, and after countless delays I must say it was worth every second I had to wait. Here Comes the Zoo harkens back to the times of old time rock and roll, yet at the same time Scott Lucas adds his own flavor to it. Throughout the album you can hear rock influences from the past thirty years, but infused in these songs are Lucas' own personality: bitter, self-loathing, and a sense of ironic intelligence. While Local H is for the most part paying homage to his roots, (the name of the album is from a Iggy Pop song and Bryn-Mawr Stomp is a sly Led Zeppelin allusion)they are also branching out into new territory. Two of the songs (My Baby Wants to Tame Me and What Would You Have Me Do) are of epic length. It's refreshing that Local H can offer up something new with each and every album while being consistent(I love every album they've released).
There's one thing that every Local H fan would like to know about Here Comes the Zoo: does Brian St. Clair match up with Joe Daniels? Well, no. He certainly has the skill, after listening to this album there's no doubt about that, but he doesn't have the presence that Joe did. This makes the band more of a vehicle for Scott, but I'm not complaining. This is one of the most refreshing albums that has come out to date. It's intelligent and emotional while delivering everything you'd expect from Local H plus a few new surprises.

I have been listening to this CD for the past 3 months (via a friend, i got a pre-release.) being a big Local H (and Chicago scene) fan I of course was looking forward to March 5th so I could get my grimmies on the studio release. So the day is here and you know what, I love it now as much as I did 3 months ago. But it didn't start this way....

When I first heard Here Comes The Zoo I knew right away that it was a departure from Scott Lucas' attempts at secular acclaim (which I think are highly evident in Pack Up The Cats.) After the split of Joe Daniels and the recruitment of Brian St. Clair (from defunct Chicago superband Tripl3FastAction,) I could tell in one listen that this was a throwback to the energy that gave us As Good As Dead. But you know, I wasn't that impressed. After two listens I was still just not feeling it. About the fifth go round it started to sink in. If As Good As Dead was Local H's twenty-something anthem...about life in the mid-90s (corporate America, growing up in the middle-class disenfranchised suburbs, and self-loathing, etc) then Here Comes The Zoo is the bible to all those feelings and more; this is Scott and Brian, the older brothers, realizing that everything that...about our 20s just gets worse in your 30s. You are older, wiser...

Here Comes The Zoo is strong. It's not a "love" album and after playing it enough you will want to give the finger to all that it rails on: corporate rock, modern love and relationships, selling out personal life aspirations for comfort, ad infinitum. Stand out tracks like "Fifth Ave Crazy", "Creature Comforted" (with its chorus of "We're all defanged and declawed, creatured comforted.") and "What Would You Have Me Do?" all tell the same story: life wasn't supposed to be like this, somewhere we got lost, somehow we got co-opted and used. Yes folks, you won't be snapping your fingers and singing these songs like good ol' Clear Channel wants you to; it's highly doubtful we'll see Clear Channel even pony up for this ride.

So, what gives? Is it worth owning? In the pantheon or Local H albums, here is my personal rank (your mileage may vary):
1) As Good As Dead
2) Here Comes The Zoo
3) Ham Fisted
4) Pack Up The Cats
I am close to ranking it as a tie for first, but I think ties are for the feeble: pick a winner and move on, so I did. Still, this album is concise and strong. I cannot say enough that it is as tight as any other Local H disc and Brian is a perfect match for Scott's wail and rock. Is it a progression or a regression? Well, yes. It both harkens back one generation (and thus I am sure some will draw some Nirvana influences in the songs and messages) and forward another (as the latest in a rash of "stoner rock" anthems and bands...and that ain't a bad thing.) Enjoy!

thats not a plane! its the heroes of Rock and Roll tossin out their new disc 'here comes the zoo.' but watch out, this rock will land harder than a 3 ton brick on Carrot Top.

This album is what you would call ROCK. its a music genre thats gone the way of disco and skat. But its all going to change as of today. With such rock epics as Baby wants to tame me and What Would You Have Me Do, you will be left with wanting more of the H love. but do not feel troubled young sir. there are eight other exquisite tracks for your listening pleasure. This album covers all the bases. the slow rocker "Hands on the Bible" to the speedy "Bryn Mawr Stomp."

if you looking for that disc to wash away those ... song blues, or you want to know if the H still has it, then you must buy this album and share it with your friends and loved ones. if you do, they will love you more in return and that means more presents at birthday time. Nothing but GOOD can come from getting this album.

Anyone else noticing a trend in the reviews? Five stars, five stars, four stars, four stars. "Buy this album! Its the greatest!" Hmm...
Being from the same one horse town as Local H(my best friend lived behind the place they wrote Bound for the Floor when they wrote it, I knew what they sang of in As Good as Dead (which I've declared to be the Soundtrack to My Life)); Believe people when they tell you this is one of the best rock and roll albums OF ALL TIME. Then came Pack up the Cats, which, in my opinion, can be compared to Weezer's Pinkerton, which at first disappointed, but then the fans realized simply was a different approach by the band, and eventually beloved just as much. Now comes Here Comes The Zoo, which goes back to the top of Local H's game. This is definitly one of the top two CD's in my collection (the other being, of course, As Good As Dead). It really is a shame that Scott isn't revered as highly as that long-haired Canadian from Nickleback.
I also have to note my amazement at the expanse of reviewers of this band. Being from Zion, I sometimes forget how big these guys are... Shoot, everyone around here seems to somehow know them personally. Its great that their fan base covers so much ground.

I admit it, I was one of the guys who said "oh they were the copacetic guys?". I was saying that when I was following Injected's early progress, before Injected's album came out and they were opening for Local H. I finally purchased this album and it rocks. I feel ashamed to have once called them "oh they were the copacetic guys?", because Bound for the Floor is not the only song this band has.

This album is amazing. It holds together. I wish I had knew of them earlier in more detail. It's so good when rock like this comes out, because it gives you faith that the world isn't braindead & completely brainwashed after all. Brian St. Clair is a very awesome drummer, very energetic. I think, from hearing their older stuff, that there was no better replacement for Joe. "Hands on the Bible", "(Baby Wants To) Tame Me", and of course "What Would You Have Me Do", really rock and show the band is doing what they want and not what people want them to do. I respect that, and I think the tunes are totally rocking.

With Local H's latest release, Here Comes the Zoo, the band has made a marked return to the sound of their breakthrough album, As Good as Dead. While 1996's Good as Dead was a successful album, and a darn fine album, 1998's Pack Up the Cats was far superior. With that album, the band grew as songwriters, as composers, and as musicians. The songs on PUTC are more ambitious than the best of Dinosaur Jr., more ferocious than the best of AC/DC, and every bit as contagious as the best of Nirvana.

On Here Comes the Zoo, the band takes a drastic step backward in their evolution. Yes, the band lost original drummer Joe (replaced with the very able Brian St. Claire of 3FastAction) and left Island Records for Palm Pictures. But more has been going on than a lineup change. Scott, the singer, songwriter, guitarist (quasi-bassist) and focal point for the ensemble seems to be complacent with the anger that once inspired songs like High Fivin' MF and Cool Magnet. Hands on the Bible, Son of Cha! and Keep Your Girlfriend stand out as great pop punk tracks, but one could only imagine what an entire album of similarly fun, spirited songs would be like. 5th Ave. Crazy, and the "why was this a single" Half Life bring the album down with the tired, tried and true.

Here Comes the Zoo ends up being a complacent record by a potentially great band. Four stars, because there's not much better out there than these guys, even without fulfilling their potential.

After 3 years, I couldn't wait for this album to be released. The good news is that it was well worth the wait. After my first listen, I will admit that I was a little disappointed. But a few more spins and I am definitely hooked. Scott's lyrics are as good as ever and Brian's drumming is also excellent. The two extended-play tracks really rock (especially Baby Wants To Tame Me, which is my favorite song on the album.) If you are looking for a great rock record from a group that will never sell out, then this it the one.

I have been listening to this CD for the past 3 months, being a big Local H and Chicago scene fan. I love this CD now as much as I did 3 months ago. But it didn't start this way....

When I first heard Here Comes The Zoo I knew right away that it was a departure from Scott Lucas' attempts at secular acclaim (which I think are highly evident in Pack Up The Cats.) After the split of Joe Daniels and the recruitment of Brian St. Clair (from defunct Chicago superband Tripl3FastAction,) I could tell in one listen that this was a throwback to the energy that gave us As Good As Dead. But you know, I wasn't that impressed. After two listens I was still just not feeling it. About the fifth go round it started to sink in. If As Good As Dead was Local H's twenty-something anthem to all that's bad about life in the mid-90s (corporate America, growing up in the middle-class disenfranchised suburbs, and self-loathing, etc) then Here Comes The Zoo is the bible to all those feelings and more; this is Scott and Brian, the older brothers, realizing that everything that was bad about our 20s just gets worse in your 30s. You are older, wiser, and more angry.

Here Comes The Zoo is strong. It's not a "love" album and after playing it enough you will want to give the finger to all that it rails on: corporate rock, modern love and relationships, selling out personal life aspirations for comfort, ad infinitum. Stand out tracks like "Fifth Ave Crazy", "Creature Comforted" (with its chorus of "We're all defanged and declawed, creatured comforted.") and "What Would You Have Me Do?" all tell the story: life wasn't supposed to be like this, somewhere we got lost, somehow we got co-opted. Yes folks, you won't be snapping your fingers and singing these songs like good ol' Clear Channel wants you to; it's highly doubtful we'll see Clear Channel even pony up for this ride.

So, what gives? Is it worth owning? In the pantheon or Local H albums, here is my personal rank (your mileage may vary):
1) As Good As Dead
2) Here Comes The Zoo
3) Ham Fisted
4) Pack Up The Cats
I am close to ranking it as a tie for first, but I think ties are for the feeble: pick a winner and move on, so I did. Still, this album is concise and strong. I cannot say enough that it is as tight as any other Local H disc and Brian is a perfect match for Scott's wail and rock. Is it a progression or a regression? Well, yes. It both harkens back one generation and forward another (as the latest in a rash of "stoner rock" anthems and bands...and that ain't a bad thing.) Enjoy!

All i got to say aboot this album is "What Would You Have Me Do?".. This is the best song Local H has done this far. Other tracks like 5th Ave.Crazy w/guest vocals from Shanna Kiel (from the St.Louis band Sullen) is another hit off the record. Half-Life (the 1st single) is loud in your face while Hands On the Bible will keep you thinking all day. But this record now! Buy 138 copies..WHAT?

Here Comes the Zoo is a perfect example of what music SHOULD be. No more of this sell out, making noise everyone wants to hear, no innovation stuff they are calling "music". This is Rock and Roll in its best form. Every song fits together like a Swiss clock. Scott Lucas' guitar roars through your speakers as soon as you hit the play button. Brian St. Clairs drums fallow soon behind. Brian plays his drums the the sticks turn around, meaning he plays with the handles, for 'maximum loudness' and it shows. This is required listening for anyone who loves rock.