Prepare The Preparations

Ludo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B003TNQ0KY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,790 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Too Tired To Wink

2. Cyborgs vs Robots

3. Whipped Cream

4. Anything For You

5. Manta Rays

6. Skeletons on Parade

7. I'll Never Be Lonely Again

8. All The Stars in Texas

9. Rotten Town

10. Overdone

11. Battle Cry

12. Safe in the Dark w/ Skeletons Lullaby

Editorial Reviews

"Whipped Cream," is the first single from Island Records, Ludo's sophomore album, Prepare the Preparations. After forming in 2003 and releasing two independent albums on their own Redbird label, Ludo scored a Top 12 Hot Modern Rock track with "Love Me Dead," the burlesque-style necrophilia smash from their major label bow. And while humor is a vital part of the group's approach, their musical chops place them closer to art-prog artists like Frank Zappa, They Might Be Giants, and Ben Folds than a novelty act. The best way to describe Ludo is simple, genuine and down-to-earth, but smart. They can be funny, but also dead serious about their craft. In all, a rock and roll band for the post-modern 21st century.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare the Preparations for maturation!, September 10, 2010

By 

Terry Mesnard (Bellevue, NE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Prepare The Preparations (Audio CD)

I remember the first time I heard "Love Me Dead." Here's a song, I thought, that was right up my alley. Witty and sardonic lyrics, a theatrical presentation that wasn't too over-the-top and what a delightful spin on a lover-spurned song. I immediately rushed out and purchased the album and fell immediately in love. These guys get it, I thought to myself. Never one to take themselves too seriously, Ludo (named after a creature in The Labyrinth) celebrates the absurd and morbid in a delightful way. But beneath their cornball/novelty/B-grade vibe lies the beating heart of musicians who can really rock and wordsmiths who know their way around a lyric.

Now we have Prepare the Preparations and even though I was incredibly excited for their second major label CD, I was also nervous. The first single, "Whipped Cream," was funny (though the video(s) are funnier) and felt like a song that the satirical "Go-Getter Greg" would be proud to call his own, it wasn't in the same category as "Love Me Dead." But when the opening song, "Too Tired to Wink" came blaring to life from my speakers, I started smiling. The pounding beat, the almost Danny Elfman-styled musical feel and the fun lyrics pulled it together. From there, things only improved and continued to surprise. "Anything For You" surprised me with its poignant and endearing lyrics. It's an unabashedly romantic love song. Sure it adds a dash of Ludo weirdness, with lyrics like, "My scar is from a polar bear / my curse is from a witch / I've caught a giant squid in all the seven seas /I've picked up rocks from distant moons astronomers will discover soon." But the funny and absurd soon gives way to a universal love theme: "But the best story that I could ever tell / Is the one where I am growing old with you." It's a surprising and unexpected song from the minds who brought us "The Horror of Our Love."

But worry not because the center piece of Prepare the Preparations is only two songs away, with "Skeletons on Parade" ready to bring back the Ludo I love. "Skeletons..." begins with a musical theatre flair, but as the song starts to gain momentum and verge into rock territory, suddenly we find ourselves listening to a demented sea shanty/Irish drinking song with awesomely macabre lyrics like "Heaven is having a Hell of a time / Skeletons on parade!" This and a couple other songs exemplify what I love about Ludo: their storytelling, morbid sense of humor and wit. They are natural storytellers and their story songs are always my favorite. Whether it's "Lake Pontchartrain" from You're Awful, I Love You or the entirety of The Broken Bride, their songs about stories always pulls me in. And even though I really, really love the previously mentioned "Anything For You," it seems almost out of place when coupled to songs like "Skeletons on Parade," "Rotten Town," or "All The Stars in Texas," all songs that tell stories of sorts but also exemplify what Ludo is all about for me. The only song I don't really care for is the doo-wop inspired song "I'll Never Be Lonely Again." It feels out of place.

But that is only one song that I don't particularly care for in an album filled with awesome songs that showcase Ludo's talents, but also help push them forward as a band. You can definitely see a huge step up here, in terms of songwriting and crafting. Prepare the Preparations is a fantastic step forward for the band, allowing them to mature while keeping their very playful heart where it should be. Definitely recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LUDO IS AWESOME, October 5, 2010

By 

treehuggergrl - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prepare The Preparations (Audio CD)

This album is truly the best. if you liked ludo before you will LOVE them now. this album has pirates, robots, skeletons and especially WHIPPED CREAM!! it has some really fun songs like rotten town, skeletons on parade and battle cry. rotten town is about a pirate with a conscious skeletons on parade is a party for the dead and battle cry is for the losers in every war. they also have some amazing love songs like anything for you, manta rays and all the stars in texas. anything for you is a laundry list of random. REALLY RANDOM events he'd do and things he'd give up for YOU! manta rays is my favorite its about a girl he doesn't know that he dreams about and will do anything to know her. and lastly is all the stars in a texas a beautiful song about a couple who's occupation is robbing banks together. ultimately a romantic fun album that you are sure to love.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to AWESOME!!!, September 29, 2010

By 

Theresa Marie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prepare The Preparations (Audio CD)

If you have NEVER heard Ludo this album is a great place to start! If you HAVE heard Ludo, you must be a raging fan and should listen to this album from beginning to end, then start it over. Listen to it for a week straight until you yourself are Too Tired to Wink. Ludo went into a semi hibernation for close to two years to crank out these songs for us and it was well worth the wait. These boys take you from the 50s in a song fit for Johnny Depp's Square enemies from Cry Baby in I'll Never Be Lonely Again to a Texico where robbery leads to marriage and happily ever after...we can assume...in All the Stars in Texas to the depression of a pirate in Rotten Town to the love of pure mess and desire for love with something extra in Whipped Cream and in true Ludo style, we also have the joy of Skeletons on Parade, this mini rock opera will have you wondering why Ludo doesn't create there own Tim Burton'esque musical animation movie. I'll be waiting for this to happen. You need this album. Just don't question it!