Customer Reviews

Lustra

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Echobelly have grown yet again. Time has honed their style and let them produce their best album to date. Sonya Aurora Madan's angelic voice sweeps you through her songs, with her dazzling lyrics and captivating ideas, until you are singing at the top of your lungs and even accompanying Glenn Johansson on his flying guitar riffs. This album has everything, from the unbelievably catchy "Iris Art", "Everyone Knows Better" and "I'm Not A Saint", to the soulfull accoustics of "Bleed" and "Falling Flame"; from the frantic ( you better not drive while playing this ) pace of "Drive Myself Distracted", "Holding The Wire" and the unparalleled "Mouth Almighty" to the majesty of the orchestra that accompanies in "Wired On." I warn everyone now not to play this album before taking a shower as your voice ( and you will be singing ) could travel for miles through the pipes.

This is Echobelly's best album, and that's saying quite a bit. The songwriting, by singer Sonya Aurora Madan and guitarist Glenn Johansson, is as strong as ever, and the arrangements and production are better than on the previous album, "On." Echobelly's previous albums had more of a live band sound, guitar-based and with the guitars sounding pretty much the same on every song. This album adds keyboards and strings to the arrangements, and varies the guitar sounds, resulting in an album that's comparable in sound and appeal to the first Elastica album--both melodic '90s updates of '80s alternative rock. None of Echobelly's power is lost in the transition. Some fans didn't like this change in Echobelly's sound, but it makes for a more satisfying listen. This version of the CD includes five B-sides that weren't on the original release; four of them are better than most bands' A material.

The 17 songs contain over a dozen memorable tunes, from the brooding "Bulldog Baby" with its pulsing synthesizer to the effortlessly catchy "Iris Art", from the stuttering guitar of "Here Comes the Big Rush" (Madan's night out with a cross-dressing friend) to the obsessive "Drive Myself Distracted" and the powerful strings on "Wired On". By rights, "Angel B" should have been used in a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episode somewhere along the way.

i LOVE THIS ALBUM... and its incredibly underated. When this thing was released you never heard a word about it. This was probably the last of the great Echobelly recordings. I had the experience of literally wearing out these CD's... the first releases, ON, EGO and this one were played to death.

The guitar hooks are revved up. I dont think anyone has really captured this type of manic style .. Sonya Aurora never sounded better. This is some killer stuff.

This album is still a joy to listen to. Its more accomplished than 'On' though perhaps not as guitar pop driven. The only let down with the album was the artwork as it really doesnt reflect what a great sound this album makes. Its a pity that more bands dont have as good a singer as echobelly do. Sonia really can belt them out and make you feel inside on the lyrics, this album shows it best by far. This album deserved to do much better.

I've been a follower of Echobelly ever since their first album EVERYONE'S GOT ONE (aka EGO) hit the shelves in 1994. It had an indescribable catchy verve to it. Quite interesting. Then in 1995, ON was released and they topped themselves with an even more self-assured and excellent album. It wasn't for about three years that they finally gave us LUSTRA.

This album, I feel, is the group's crowning achievement. One has often heard that the third time is the charm; LUSTRA is no different in this respect. Though the music and lyrics are darker and more dense, the original Echobelly personality shines out in every track. On this American release, you get five additional tracks that were once the elusive B-sides on the single releases. With seventeen tracks of musical bliss, one cannot help but succumb to the spell that is spun by Echobelly. I can only hope they continue to produce such high quality music for years to come. Check it out for yourself.

This album is a good effort, but it does not measure up to On. Here you will find tantalising sound, luscious vocals and a few examples of clever lyricism, but overall On would be the better purchase if you are making a choice between the two. Highlights here include "Bulldog Baby", "Out of the breakdown of the whole, back to the choices on repeat, out of a life put on hold"; "Welcome to the new dictators. Power drugs and imitators". "I'm Not A Saint" is a great rallying point... and in "Everyone Knows Better" "Sunshine-a ray of hope in a hopeless situation. Suntanned-your reward for the hopeful hours that you spend-burning."

If you didn't want to plunk down $30 for the import version of Echobelly's dazzling Lustra (like I did), there's no excuse anymore. Click that purchase button and you'll be making a very smart investment. The original 12-track Lustra is augmented by 4 of their best recent B-sides plus the song Heroes in June which was previously released only on a limited edition French promo disc. That's 17 songs! This is Echobelly maturing, but not losing any of their edge.

But definitley not a major one. I have to admit, waiting 3 years to get this in America, I was expecting more. But when following up On, it was probably expecting too much.

This album is a great value for the dollar. 17 songs, all of them great, and all for the price of a regular cd. Be sure to get On, if you haven't already, when you order this one.