Customer Reviews

Waiting Room

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

After a six year hiatus (during which the group had officially disbanded), Poor Old Lu has returned with a wonderfully cohesive collection of songs that won't fail to satisfy both the longtime fan as well as the many new listeners sure to be introduced to this band through "The Waiting Room".

Poor Old Lu formed in 1991 in Seattle, Washington, and "Mindsize", their 1993 label debut for Alarma Records, immediately set them apart from the rest of the emerging Seattle scene with a wonderfully unique sound that was impossible to get out of your head. Over the course of the next three years, Poor Old Lu continued to grew musically and artistically and recorded two additional full length records (1994's "Sin" and 1996's "A Picture of the Eighth Wonder") and one EP (1995's "Straight Six") for Alarma Records. Shortly after the release of "A Picture of the Eighth Wonder", the band officially split up, even going so far as to record and release their "...Final Performance" (1998, KMG Records).

To the delight of fans, the members of Poor Old Lu have done anything but stagnate over the past several years. Guitarist Aaron Sprinkle has been actively producing and engineering many records, not the least of which are the five recordings he's made solo or with Bassist Nick Barber as Rose Blossom Punch. Drummer Jesse Sprinkle has also been actively recording, and, in addition to playing drums for Morella's Forest, he has produced two records and an EP with his own New York-based band, The World Inside. Lead Singer Scott Hunter hasn't been recording, but his lyrical and vocal contributions evidence the same maturation as the rest of the band. Musically, this band continues to shine. Bravely experimenting with new sounds and techniques, Poor Old Lu challenges listeners to join the band where they're at today, never content to simply pick up where they left off in 1996.

Thematically, Poor Old Lu seems to have brightened up a bit since their last outing. The title is a metaphor for Earth as we wait to meet our Saviour in Heaven. "The Waiting Room" serves alternately as an exploration of broken man and his earnest plea for grace and a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. This theme is plainly defined at the onset through Hunter's ever-introspective lyrics in lead track Revolve: "Have the lights gone dim/in the light of this sin? ... I'm pushing this out and pulling You in/I've been living in doubt and walking on pins/I'm throwing this out and hoping in (where joy and peace begin)/I'm sick of the drought and walking on."

Ultimately, this record is not only a welcome return of a wonderfully talented band, but it is also an exciting preview of things to come. This is a great place to start if you're not familiar with Poor Old Lu; and, if you are already a fan, you know that "The Waiting Room" will join the rest of Poor Old Lu's records as an absolutely indispensable musical component of your life.

Not sure what the previous reviewer was smoking . . . but this is now my favorite Poor Old Lu album overall and I've been playing it over and over. What a great comeback. Poor Old Lu does what they do best, giving us uplifting, amazing songs and great musicianship (as always). I love their back catalog, but I feel that this album is strongest and most consistent. I've seen them play live on a number of occasions, and I can't wait to see them play the stuff on this album.

I am tremendously excited by this album and I hope it's not their last!

I really like this album from beginning to end. Every song is great, they worked hard on this and you can tell. The only albums of 2002 that I think might be better are Rush's Vapor Trails & Sixpence None the Richer's Divine Discontent. Some of the songs remind me a bit of Sunny Day Real Estate, some sound like old Poor Old Lu. The rest sound very fresh and alive. These guys have made a masterpiece. Just listen to the sound files, and even a short piece indicates that this is a strong album.

As with all of Poor Old Lu's stuff, I decided to listen to it about a thousand times before reviewing it. Poor Old Lu has the strange quality of sounding better and better every time you hear them. After a few weeks of hearing "The Waiting Room", I can honestly say that this might end out being my favorite album yet. As always, Scott's lyrics have a way of digging into my guts like no one else. The title track has already worked its way into my list of the best songs ever written. Musically and lyrically, this bunch of geeks that I know from church never stops amazing me.

The long awaited "The Waiting Room" by Poor Old Lu will leave Lusers a bit disillusioned--but not disappointed! The album is colored with pretty choruses and creativity that sound like nothing else out there--including Poor Old Lu.

The band breached the box of what Poor Old Lu was. Left behind is its harder edge, but the album's intricately different style will keep you from missing songs like "Rail" and "Receive" from their previous album: "A Picture of the Eighth Wonder." But Lusers won't help but wonder why this ever present staple was ignored in "The Waiting Room." Nevertheless, the new sound is intriguing and leaves its listeners with the realization that Poor Old Lu has only scratched the surface of its musical potential.

Aaron Sprinkle's mix is clean and well produced. Scott Hunter's lyrics are completely Christ-centered, leaving you feeling convicted and desiring to change your bent towards complacency. Hunter's vocals are more crisp than ever and are accompanied with creative traces of bgvs. Together, the style of music is vast and cannot be confined to any one genre.

Yet there's something that is not Lu-like--nor should be. "The Waiting Room" is a bit "poppy"! And "pop" is the complete antithesis of Poor Old Lu. Nonetheless, the band's first attempt at an album in nearly six years is a creative success.

Maybe being completely different in a world of musical predictability is completely desirable?

I am so thrilled to see that Poor Old Lu is back together. Their album "Picture of the 8th Wonder" is my favorite album of all time. I still listen to it often, even 6 years later.

"Waiting Room" is almost just as good. They have taken a little of the edge out of their music and added intricate details that can only be appreciated after a few listens. Poor Old Lu's lyrics have always been very introspective and poetic and they don't disappoint here. They put to words what most Christians think but can't exactly explain.

The life of a Christian is not always "peachy" and Poor Old Lu's music deals a lot with the frustration we feel sometimes. For me it is very healing to vent and work through these feelings.

If you are new to Lu, this a good place to start. Definitely pick up "Picture of the 8th Wonder" also.

Lost in the corn fields of Iowa,
Matt W

This album is among the best Christian music recordings I have heard, and possibly the best in the harder rock category. Every track has a mystic, ethereal quality which seems to trancend the sum of its parts. While not the loudest, craziest rock album out there, this album packs a musical and lyrical intensity that is difficult to find elsewhere. Each song seems to give a unique, poetic insight into the vocalist's life, and the lyrics are in no way derivative of any other Christian band.

While every track is good, standouts include opener "Revolve," "Now," "A Month of Moments," "Friday to Sunday," and the title track. The first three feature big guitar riffs, with "Month" showing distinct blues influences, and present a unique and artful style of rock. "Friday to Sunday" touches on a unique theme in Christian music, the thoughts of the disciples from the crucifixion to the resurrection (hence the title) and then relates this despair and joy to the singer's own emotions. "The Waiting Room" is by far the best cut on the album. It features a long introduction, something most rock songs shy away from these days, and metaphoric which builds to a shrieking climax. It is a songwriting masterpiece, and it is worth buying the whole album just to own this cut.

Throughout the album, production, musicianship and vocals are excellent. The detailed craftsmanship sets this album apart and rewards multiple listenings. That said, it is not for everyone. It consciously avoids rock and Christian rock cliches and revels in mood and atmosphere. Those searching for sing-along choruses, danceable grooves, or head-banging metal should look at any of the thousands of look-alike bands in either secular or Christian music. But, for serious fans of any genre, this album is an excellent pick.

I have been an avid fan of Poor Old Lu since the mid 90's, so when I heard they were putting out a new album I immediately set out to get it. When I gave it a couple listens my first thought was, "Pretty good, but not great." I put it on the shelf with the rest of my POL CD's and haven't had a desire to listen to it again...until today. It's been, what?, eight years? Today I was blown away by the depth of this record. I'm almost embarrassed to say it's been collecting dust for the last eight years. The only thing I can figure is that I was a little disillusioned that "The Waiting Room" wasn't "Sin Part 2," or "9th Wonder" and I was distracted by other music I was into at the time. After listening to this disc today about 10 times over at work I can say it's up there with their best stuff. It's not experimental like Sin or overly angsty like POT8W, it's just their sound, matured and refined, with all the expected elements in place. There are plenty of catchy hooks, great musical interplay, and Scott Hunter's wonderfully unique vocals. "Today" sounds like a sunnier version of "What If Uncle Ben Had Lived?" and "Revolve" sounds like it could be from the same sessions as "Rail." The sleeper cut is the title track which starts with a mellower intro and crescendos to a powerful, emotional climax. Overall there isn't a bad cut on the whole record. So...to those Poor Old Lu fans who may have written this one off too soon (like myself) I encourage you to give it another chance. I think you'll find it a very satisfying conclusion to the career of this amazing band.

Poor Old Lu have finally released an album together. If you are a big time POL fan you will not be disappointed. Scott Hunter (lead vocalist) is still one the most unique vocalist I have ever heard. The whole is band is special. I wish there was a Poor Old Lu praise/worship album out. That would be really cool.

I've been a fan of PoLu since "Sin." And in my opinion, this album takes a big, fat, boring leak on their legacy. I am annoyed that I spent ten bucks to get it used (I note a few days later the used price is going south - apparently I'm not the only one who doesn't want their copy).

To be plain, where the other poor old lu albums were fresh, where they were exciting, where they jazzed your ears and made you get up and rock... this album serves you a big old pot of boredom stew. If you listen to any new indie music, this will sound like the unoriginal retread that it is. It's not even boring in that it repeats their old stuff; it's different from their old stuff in bad ways. It's over-produced, for one. There are no rough edges, everything interesting has been dulled by studio professionalism. And the music, the band...they sound like some lame arena rock hosers. Scott's voice is still distinctive and interesting but he is stuck singing some pretty annoying, unoriginal songs.

If you are new to poor old lu, start elsewhere. Sin, Mindsize, Straight Six, Eighth Wonder, they're all worth your time and money. This is not. If you are a longtime poor old lu fan wonder if you'll like this, maybe you will, but I was badly disappointed and regret buying it. I will probably keep it but I doubt I will play it more than the two times I make myself listen to everything I buy...

If you are a poor old lu fan with all their old stuff, why don't you try a different band like modest mouse, cush, the flaming lips, clinic, rainer maria... all of them have albums much better than this snooze-a-thon.