Customer Reviews

Lulu

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am glad to read that there are others who think Lulu is one of the greatest albums of all time. You know how when you see a movie once in a while that makes you think, "now THAT is why I watch movies"? Well, Lulu is why I listen to rock and roll. This is perhaps the most tragically overlooked record in rock history, with the exception of all three records by Big Star. Trip Shakespeare was an incredibly magical unit, and their live shows were just devastating. I saw them at the Cubby Bear in November '91, and I still get chills recalling how they opened with Bonneville from Lulu, and it was just SHIMMERING with beauty. Their concerts were the best shows--the sound was so wonderful, and they could sing, and they could jam. And they were happy and funny and full of life. It is one of those strange ironies of music that Semisonic is ten times more popular than Trip ever was, because Trip is so much better. I mean, Feeling Strangely Fine doesn't have any songs that are good enough to be on Lulu. This album is in my top 5 of all time. They are, in no particular order: Lulu by Trip Shakespeare; #1 Record/Radio City by Big Star; Songs From Northern Britain by Teenage Fanclub; The Who Sell Out; and Quadrophenia, also by the Who. Get Lulu if you love harmonies, and melodies, and guitars. It is essential and indescribably wonderful.

Having produced such wildly different acts as Prince and the Revolution and the Replacements, for a while in the late 80's and early 90's, the Minneapolis music scene was the next big thing. Among the best bands to come out of that was the eccentric pop quartet Trip Shakespeare. The bands music was strongly influenced by the more experimental pop and rock of the 60's and 70's--the Beatles of Revolver and later albums; The Beach Boys circa Pet Sounds; with perhaps a little Todd Rundgren and Queen thrown in. But the band's sound is always its own, and based solidly on the band's vocal talents, which include brothers Matt and Dan Wilson, and bassist John Munson, all three capable lead vocalists. Lulu is chocked full of pop gems. Check out the title track, along with "Bachelorette," "Down My Block," "Jill Can Drive," and "Look at the Moon," as well as the lyrically incoherent but brilliant "Your Mouth."

Honestly, you could be trapped on a desert island for years and years with only this CD and you would be just fine (provided the discman's batteries kept going). The album is filled, start to finish, with brilliant pop numbers, amazing instrumental works, and 2 or 3 part harmonies sung by great singers. This band can absolutely rock - it is unfortunate that Semisonic has not succeeded in capturing the magic of Trip Shakespeare. It is even more unfortunate that the record companies have decided not to reissue this CD as well. But, if you can get lucky, pick up a copy - ebay, perhaps?

I must concur with those above - Lulu is one of the finest CDs of the 1990s. Great hooks, killer lyrics, and soaring harmonies. If you were lucky enough to see this band in their prime, you'll never forget them. One of the best live shows I've ever seen.

Trip Shakespeare was a legendary band from Minneapolis who played phenomenal live shows and made several challenging records. Lulu may be their best. It's sound is dense with many layers of instrumentation and vocal harmonies. It is worthy of repeat listens. The songs are written very well, dealing more often with relationships, cars, and well...just being from Minnesota. Matt Wilson has since released the very good Burnt, White, and Blue (1998), while Dan Wilson and John Muson formed another great band Semisonic.

This is for those who haven't heard the CD...

Alright, you're here. You found the group. You found these reviews. You've passed the initiation. Now just get your hands on a copy of "Lulu" as soon as you can. Hooks. Harmonies. A strong, assured, fat guitar/bass underpinning to tight, soaring vocals. Not a bad song in the bunch. Just a touch of 'weird' to keep you guessing. Clean and bright production, the craft and unabashed musicality here is simply stunning throughout. Old or new, "Lulu" is as perfect a CD as you're likely to find.

Every time I listen to this CD,(my favorite of all of the Trip efforts) I am transported back in time to my college days in Columbia, MO where these guys played frequently. I loved them then but little did I know that 10 - 12 - or 15 years later I would still love them.
Semisonic is a good pop band that did just as the record companies wanted, make money. Yet they were never able to duplicate the luscious innovative sounds that attracted the cult following among the colleges of the midwest that Trip Shakespeare did.
Matt Wilson, the more influential of the Wilson bros and John Munson have again got it together with The Flops. Go to theflops.com to reunite yourselves with these talented guys.

I used to go see Trip Shakespeare every chance I got. They were fantastic live, but the recordings ain't too shabby, either. On LULU, the two best tracks, in my opinion, are "Jill Can Drive" and "Graveyard." It's hard to believe that the remnants of this band became the mediocre "Semisonic" -- but then, we live in an age of stark raving mediocrity.

Easily one of the most overlooked bands of the past decade, Trip Shakespeare's brilliant "Lulu" deserves to be heard by all music fans. For those that have come across this cd, they are aware of the effect that it has on the listener. For those that have not come across this cd, they have not heard music yet. This cd is so fantastic. I've had it for two years and have listened to on average 2 or 3 times a week. It never gets old. I highly recommend this to ANYONE. Please, find it and buy it. You will feel the impact of a masterful cd.

This is truly one of the best-produced and written rock albums to come out of Minnesota since Bob Dylan stopped calling himself a Minnesotan. The fabric of these songs is tight and beautiful, with new sonic suprises at every inspection. It should never have been discontinued... but since it has been, perhaps someone has it as MP3s...