Customer Reviews

Tennessee

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Memphis is the only place in the world this band could have come from, and that's where they came from. Memphis is seedy, dark and makes for more decadent fun than I should have had during the three years I lived there. It has a thriving live music scene, a rich history of blues and and rock and roll, and plenty to write songs about.

Lucero's Ben Nichols writes about familiar blues territory of lost love in one rocker of a song ("Starlite Diner") but isn't above writing about lost balance in a lovely ballad ("I'll Just Fall") about getting falling-down drunk. He has a hard, raspy voice that reminds me of Mike Ness (Social Distortion), and its distinctiveness will be one of the major reasons for the band's inevitable breakout. (The biggest reason will be the band's stage presence; I've never seen better musicians have a better time on stage.)

"Tennessee," produced by Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi All-Stars), is more of a studio album than the band's first CD. The background vocals and heavier layering were jarring at first, but my reference point was pure live and a very live-like first album; it improved significantly with repeated listening. The instrumentation is solid: a good variance from song to song of electric and acoustic guitars, stand-up and electric bass, and, occasionally, steel guitar.

The songwriting isn't complicated -- girls and drinking -- but Nichols handles it with a sophistication of a Ryan Adams or a Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and is often remarkably visual. "Smoking the cigarettes more than I should/My hands won't stop shaking and that can't be good/I would forget you if I only could/Think about anything else," he sings in "Slow Dancing," with a voice that sounds like he has sung one song too many but it's OK because you know he's supposed to sound like that, which, come to think of it, is exactly what I liked about Memphis.

As one of Lucero's legion of devoted hometown fans, I cannot recommend their albums highly enough. They're particularly strong in their ability to cross the genre lines that so often divide a local music scene; Lucero, incredibly, manages to appeal as much to the hip young punks as they do to country-western types, and to unite them as one enthusiastic audience.

As good as the albums are, they hardly do justice to Lucero as a live act. Here in Memphis when the band plays at Young Avenue Deli, the energy they pump into the room is simply staggering, matched only by the energy of the crowd around the stage. When you see dozens upon dozens of long-time fans singing along, every lyric as familiar and welcome as the taste of the beers they hold in their hands, you know you've struck gold. Amazing stuff.

For god's sake, somebody come take the boys to the people. The world needs Lucero.

For quite some time Memphis has gone voiceless. The city to which Robert Johnson ventured to find his death, from which Elvis benefited the world , and from which Sam & Dave sang sad songs of lonesome heartache, has gone without its true reflection from which it inspired the world. Again, the world can be inspired by the heat and muddy banks that have influenced the delta soul. This soul has finally been truly reflected again through Lucero and its modern conujurations of country, rock, and punk.

It's hard to believe that Lucero hasn't been snatched up by a major label yet. They are absolutely one of the best bands I have heard in a long time. Hailing from Memphis, TN and the surrounding areas, places known worldwide for great music, Lucero is settling into the long line of great Mid-South artists on this solid effort. Lead singer Ben Nichols sometimes writes with a simple and cliched pen (i.e. - songs about chicks, drinking and broken hearts) but he definitely makes it work. These songs, with their beer-soaked lyrics and bitter-sweet melodies, will stick in your gut for a long time to come, evoking memories of lost nights and heart-wrenching relationships gone wrong. Try "Here at the Starlite" or "Nights Like These".
Some will be tempted to lump Lucero into the Alt-Country camp, but their music encompasses so many genres, from country to punk to the blues to just plain rock, that it's really hard to categorize them. And there's no better place to witness this melting pot of sound than at one of their shows. Listening to this CD is one thing, but seeing this energetic band in person is quite another. I'm not sure that I've ever been around a band that brought so much feeling and excitement to a live performance and was able to draw those exact feelings from the crowd. Seeing them live really is like hearing them for the first time every time; each show seems to get better and better. That's especially true now with the addition of their new guitarist. No matter what style of music you love, Lucero will not disappoint. Do yourself a favor, buy this record, crack open a beer and enjoy.

I read in a review where these guys were called the Nirvana of Alt country. I dont know if thats true, but it made me want to check these guys out. This is a very good lp. The lead singer has a "whiskey soaked" type sound to him. The songs are kind of slow heavy guitar heartache songs. Fans of Alternative, Classic rock, and Alt Country will like this. They put on a great live show as well.

If you get a chance to see thse guys live, don't miss them. Great song writing, the group interplay and energy has to be
seen to be believed. It looks like only a matter of time before the world gets hip to these guys and some major label signs them. Tennesse is a good intro. to the Lucero sound, buy it until they come to your town, then go enjoy.

This entire CD is awesome and it just gets better the more you listen. If you like Alt-Country you'll love this CD.

When i listen to this cd i honestly get warm on the inside. This is the best Lucero cd out of all of them. I spent all of last summer listening to this album and it just feels great to listen to it and think about those times. Anyone who just wants to sit down and drink a luke warm keystone light should grab this album. Youll love it. Its perfect music to listen to while drinking, its soo chill out music.

It is great to see Lucero on Amazon! I was listening to these guys a few years ago in hole in the wall coffee shops late at night in Tennessee. This album has a song on it for everyone. My favorite would have to be "Nights Like These".

I think ths album is Luceros finest work. Its a little country, and a little rock and his voice is great. This was the first Lucero album that I listened to. Lucero has been defined as "Heartbreak at its mother f***ing finest" quite frankly I couldn't agree more.

I was impressed with "Sweet Little Thing"
blown away by "Fist Full of Tears"
and "nights like these" and "aint that lonely" are two of my favorite songs on the album.
...oh yeah, "chain link fince" rocks

just buy the record already.