Customer Reviews

Pretend You're Alive

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Indie-rock, pure'n'simple. That's what comes to mind when you listen to Lovedrug's solid debut, "Pretend You're Alive." They sound like the love child of Spiritualized and Sunny Day Real Estate, but they have a classic-sounding rock rhythm and some truly exceptional songs. This is a band to watch.

"Out of love for the hunt/out of love for the catch," Michael Shepard sings mournfully at the start of "In Red." It's not the most alluring start, but it is a pretty good one. And the mix of angular rock and lament continues, in a series of serious songs that dip into the topics of abuse of women, alcohol, hopelessness and angels. It finishes off on a quiet piano song with wistful lyrics, "Paper Scars."

Two years is pretty young to be a band, let alone a breakout one. But Lovedrug has plenty of talent, and a sort of steady, enjoyable sound that most bands don't achieve in their entire lifetimes. Most surprisingly, they establish a key "sound," while avoiding monotony by having the songs not sound TOO alike. What's more, it has the polished, experienced sound of a band much older than two years.

The core of each song is a powerful, layered melody: Sheperd's trembling guitars and quiet piano serve as a good counterpart to Adam Ladd's versatile bass. Woo, that bass -- listen to it roar, buzz, and roil. And the drumming is also quite good, although it tends to be buried under the guitars and bass -- it's there, but it blends in well. The cymbals are the easiest part to locate.

Sheperd has a high, flexible voice that always sounds heartbroken -- at the start of "Paper Stars," he even sounds kind of like a woman. But that perpetually sad sound works out well, especially since the tone of "Pretend You're Alive" is pretty dang melancholy. Brilliant, but melancholy. "If God was on the radio/I know he'd say to thee/love is spiders on the edge/and we're hanging by a thread," or "You don't know how cool you are/to find the ways to love me/without shame..."

Lovedrug make an auspicious full-length debut, and they leave you merely wondering where they'll go and what they'll do after "Pretend You're Alive." A powerful, melancholy debut, and one to check out.

I work at a venue that specializes in indie rock and the like, and we had the honor of hosting Lovedrug in November. It has been a long time since I've seen a band that put me in such awe of their work - and I see a lot of bands come through this area. Their album backs it up, too - standout tracks being "Down Towards the Healing", "The Monster", "Spiders", and basically anything in the first eight tracks. DO NOT MISS THEM LIVE.

although at least three of these songs have already been released on EPs, the album was still satisfying. lovedrug is probably going to be most often compared to sunny day, esp. with the high-pitched vocals, but in my opinion they're definitely better. more melodic, more variety in the song structures, and overall a catchier sound with more hooks. some of the piano-based tracks are a little dull and the lyrics tend to be indulgent, but there are more than a few standout and definitely rockin' tracks, such as: in red, blackout, rocknroll, and candy. lookin' forward to the next one.

I ordered this CD as a birthday present for my son (they're his favorite group), but when we got it, we found that although it was labeled as "Pretend You're Alive" by Lovedrug (both on the cover and on the CD itself), the music on it was in fact some acoustic alt-country guy. Not bad, but not the CD we ordered. I contacted The Militia Group, who produced the CD, to tell them they were mislabeling their CDs, but they refused to respond. I contacted them again, and again they ignored my email. Apparently, this company is just fine with the idea of mixing up their artists and putting them randomly onto any CD they want to--a wretched way to run a business if you ask me.

I HATE the idea of giving Lovedrug one star, because they are a fine indy group, and this album (I ended up getting it as EP I, II & III on itunes) has some excellent tunes*, but I do have to warn people away from The Militia Group and their CDs.

*P.S. The tunes I'd recommend most heartily are: Ladders, Pink Champagne, Elastical and Dead in the Water (I tend to favor the most hard-rocking songs).

Hey,

I just wanted to give you the scoop that I was talking to some of the guys from the fairly popular indie rock band Lovedrug and they mentioned that their album is based on the tim burton movie Edward Scissorhands and that their music fits up to the movie perfectly. Here is the kicker though...it matches up best when the cd/ipod is on shuffle. They mentioned that you can even better the experience by turning on repeat so it plays for the whole movie. That's how perfect it is. I think the album is called everything starts where it ends. It's their new one.

I tried it and it did work, weirdly enough :)

Thought it was kind of cool so I wanted to share....

I love this bands sound. Great vocals, and they have a great sense of melody.
I am very glad to have found out about this band (actually two years after the release) they really are a fresh breath of air in the indie scene. Blackout really stands out for me, because of the haunting imagery and sound. I guess I'd place them in the indie-ambient-pop category.

How can you describe something that makes you feel so at ease, then want to kill everything in the world, then want to fall in love with an angel? This album is so intense with metaphors with the most amazing music to match.

Everyone should own this album. Plus the guys in the band are super nice, which makes it definately worth going to a show or two.

I have yet to share this cd with a friend and have them say they don't like it. So, i challenge you to listen, and try to feel nothing.

Quite possibly one of the better bands out there, and Pretend You're Alive certainly doesn't disappoint. One song after another will get you hooked (get it? Drug? Hooked. Awful pun.) and it is certainly one of the most talked about Indie albums out there in recent years, and with good reason.

So listen to it and be elitist with the rest of them too. You will have plenty of reasons to be "too good" for the rest of them if you own this album.

I have had this album since I saw them open for Piebald a little over a year ago. I had not heard of them previously and when they came on stage my girlfriend and I were ready to roll our eyes and suffer through yet another dreadful opening band. But as soon as they were halfway through their first song we looked at each other and said, "wow these guys sound good".
and thats just the thing, they are a great live show to compliment this great album. Lead singer Michael Shepard is something of a different world. His angelic, delicate voice seemlessly balances a tuneful crackling and a trembling falsetto that makes this music seem very ethereal. I cannot say enough about how good these compositions are so just buy the album. The standout tracks are Blackout, Spiders, Rocknroll, Pretend You Alive, Down Towards the Healing.

A pleasant surprise has been found...I discovered Lovedrug on myspace and at first listen was very impressed! After purchasing their debut album, I was very displeased with the lyrics but in continuing my optimisitic desires for them I have really grown to appreciate their music as a whole. Their music is rich, full, and embodied with sweet poetic brilliance in the distribution of song and lyrics.

***Take a listen for yourself!