Lovedrug - The Sucker Punch Show
Record Label: The Militia Group
Release Date: October 28, 2008
I have had this album on repeat for about a week now, and I think I can finally have a final verdict on the new Lovedrug album. Although in the beginning I was struck by how different this album sounded compared to how I thought it was going to sound, I can safely say that I thoroughly enjoy this album. That said, I couldn’t really say the same for everyone. What took me a couple of listens to get used to, some people may never get used to. Lovedrug is changing from their usual layered tracks to a more lyric-oriented sound. This doesn't necessarily mean that the album sounds any worse then the others; on the contrary, it sounds amazing, thanks to the studio that Lovedrug was able to use. What it does mean is that Lovedrug is a band that is making the decision to continue to evolve their sound, which is something that I back 100%.
The Sucker Punch Show opens with the one song I had a lot of difficultly liking: "Let it All Out". This is not your typical Lovedrug fare, and it comes off very rough. Gone is the backing or leading keyboard; this song is just your basic four piece: 2 guitars, bass, drums. I guess that immediately set me back a little, considering Lovedrug hasn't really been this sparse since Pretend You're Alive. But this is a very good song and I really like it as an album opener, since it really shows the change that the band is making. The next song, "Only One", is one of the tracks I am a little disappointed with. I do like the song, and the message that I think vocalist/songwriter Michael Shepard is trying to give is good as well. But this is one of the weakest songs in that it really doesn't 'wow' you. Not to say that these songs are supposed to 'wow' you, but I would definitely consider this one of the weaker songs on the album. "Blood Like" comes next, and this is the song old Lovedrug fans will love. It is the total and complete embodiment of their signature sound. I really like this song also; it is a very musically strong track. I might go out on a limb and say that this would be a good song to use as a single, unless they want to really jump and use the next song "Everyone Needs a Halo." This is the best song on the album, from the raging guitars to the biting lyrics. It is also the strongest; you can see the effort the band put into this song. While some of the lyrical content might be a little less then radio friendly (Talk of wet dreams and semen! Hide the children!), I think that if you really want to show someone what Lovedrug's current sound is, this is the track to use. From there, you have "The Dirtiest Queen," which is a song that seems like it would have felt more comfortably on their previous album Everything Starts Where it Ends. It has that gritty feeling that I have come to associate that album with, and its lyrics also have some of the sarcasm that is prevalent on that album.
"Borrowed Legs," the next song, impressed me. It is a strong deviation from their previous work, and they pulled it off. With more of an easy listening kind of sound to it, this song really shows the range of Shepard's voice as well as the band themselves. From the opening riff to the layered vocals in the chorus, this song is very good. And I think Shepard can pull of the falsetto very well. The next song, "Broken Home," continues this trend of being different, and I got almost a more radio friendly sound from it. The guitars sound almost too clean, but it doesn't take away from the track. As with all of the other songs on the album, the lyrics are superb. "Fake Angels," track eight of the record, is also along the same vein of the other Lovedrug records, leaving me a little nostalgic for their earlier stuff. I really like the vocal sound of this track as well, with Shepard pushing his vocal range further then I have heard him do in one song before. It is very strong in that regard for sure. The next song, "My World," continues the sound from the previous track into an entirely different song. It is a very clean song as well, but, once again, this doesn't take away from the sound or the message, like it does with some other albums. I guess that Lovedrug's own unique style of sound is something that sounds a bit raw no matter how the recording sounds or who mixed it. "Hante Bruit" is one of those typical "just noise" tracks, as I like to call them. I don't really understand why artists put them in albums, because it's not really a track in the traditional sense. But it does offer a bit of a breather or transition into what the rest of the album is going to be like (or in this albums case: the last two songs). If this is its intention, then I guess that it succeeds. The last two songs are both slower and longer then the rest of the songs on the album (or "Panicked Witness" is, clocking at 6:57). I have always wondered why some artists choose to end their albums quieter then they start, but I am not complaining, especially in this album. These two songs, "Panicked Witness" and "Dying Days," continue with the overall theme or sound that the album has already presented, despite the fact that these songs also share the same "doomed" feeling, which is also an interesting way to end the album. But, like I continue to say, I am not complaining.
Overall, this album is incredible. It does an amazing job musically and lyrically, with Lovedrug evolving their sound in a way that shouldn’t step on too many toes. But, I still feel that, of the albums, this will be the one that gets the most mixed reviews. Some will love it ("Blood Like" being a prime example) and some will hate it ("Let it All Out"). "Blood Like" continues that sound that Lovedrug has forged over the last couple of albums, and "Let It All Out" shows that change that is happening. While I really like both of the songs, I have a feeling that these will be the deciding tracks in one's opinion of the album (or "Everyone Needs a Halo", because of it's more explicit nature) But, in the end, Lovedrug has continued to impress me, both with their skill in the instruments that they play and in the lyrics that they write, continuing with the haunting voice of Shepard leading the way. I would recommend this album to pretty much everyone, other then old people (ha ha, generalization!). Its more explicit nature and honest content may be a bit of a turn off, but don't let that stop you from enjoying a truly artistic work from one of the more unique bands in the industry.
decent review, but it seems like it's written for someone who is a long time lovedrug fan. what about someone who has never really listened to lovedrug much?
decent review, but it seems like it's written for someone who is a long time lovedrug fan. what about someone who has never really listened to lovedrug much?
You read the other two reviews? One's mine and i think Topher did one as well.
I can definitely understand why so many people do not enjoy this record. I was very skeptical and critical of it when I heard some of the first songs posted online before it was released. Having given it a fair chance, I do enjoy this album, though not as much as Everything or Pretend, but it really is not that bad.
You can download the alternate version of the album on noisetrade.com, and while it isn't necessarily "classic Lovedrug" either, it is more similar to their previous work. Most of it is just acoustic reworkings of the songs, but some of them are completely different arrangements (for instance "Borrowed Legs" begins with a synth that you might find on a Joy Electric album before breaking into what sounds like an 80's version of the song).
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