Lucero

Lucero: That Much Further WestThat Much Further West (2003)
Tiger Style Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: AmericanIdleAmericanIdle
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on April 30th 2004Lucero have hit the nail right on the head with That Much Further West (their third full length). This is 2003's best rock n roll record. No fucking contest. Stylistically you could call them a hybrid between Springsteen and The Replacements, but this description doesn't do them justice. You could c.

Lucero have hit the nail right on the head with That Much Further West (their third full length). This is 2003's best rock n roll record. No fucking contest. Stylistically you could call them a hybrid between Springsteen and The Replacements, but this description doesn't do them justice. You could call them Southern Rock, but so many more influences shine through.

Lucero keep their music fresh enough to avoid pidgeonholes, but there's still an overwhelming sense of farmiliarity to songs like "Mine Tonight" and "Coming Home". Lyrically it doesn't stray too far from the tried-and-true country music tradition of broken hearts, but it manages to keep it's aforementioned freshness with lines like "I ain't that much worse than the rest/I'm just that much further west".

Let's take a look at the many highlights of this record. The opener and title track kicks offf with singer/guitarist Ben's gravelly, mumbly crooning before swelling and blooming into a rocking piece with twinkly guitar working, irresistable hooks and an awesome piano part. This flows perfectly into the second track "Mine Tonight", which picks up the pace slightly and adds more of a country twang. The breakdown towards the end of the song is perfectly executed. The fourth cut "Across The River" is my personal favorite. It's a more laid back song that begins with subtle drums, a humming organ and some of the more soulful vocals I've ever heard. It goes into a beautiful symphony of [insert bad metaphor].

When we flip the record over we notice two distinct sides of Lucero emerge where there was a perfect blend of the two; the rock side [with faster tempos and more distortion] and the folk/country side. However, this more obvious stylistic seperation doesn't make it any worse. A heavy guitar lick opens the rocking "Hate And Jealousy" before it cools down with interesting drum parts and then explodes again with a blazing guitar solo. We then ramble into the seventh track "Joining The Army". A short acoustic cut with a fiddle, here Ben's lyrics are even more confessing and emotional than previously on the album. They're pretty much the main focus on this song, so it's a good hting that they're so strong. The ninth song "Tears Don't Matter Much" shows off Lucero's punkier side with a chorus that makes you sing along and beautiful melody on the breakdowns. The last song on the album "When You Decided To Leave" is a somber number with mostly one guitar and vocals. The electronic drums in the background are nicely done. Ben's vocals reach their emotional peak on this dittie before it flows into static and then goes back into an instrumental reprise of That Much Further West. The perfect sad end to a perfect sad album.

For those of you with open ears and minds, this is a great listen. All those nu-emo and "pop punk" bands will really have something to cry about once they hear this record and realize that four guys from Tennessee elicit more emotion then their crappy bands ever will.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

brugnargnar (January 13, 2009)

all i've been listening to lately

Maks (April 6, 2006)

just great!

notfeelingcreative (March 4, 2005)

I'm late commenting, because I don't like to comment on bands i've never heard, and last night was my first exposure to lucero, as a result no one will probably read this, oh well, I'll cry my tears over it later. Anyhow this album is fucking amazing, and I am currently kicking myself for not hearing them until they opened for avail last night!

everytimeiwin (February 13, 2005)

in my opinion, the best band ever

Anonymous (February 6, 2005)

these guys are awsome!!! someone please get them some publicity... they rule... i just heard of them and theyre already one of my favorite bands... i cant wait to see them live .... KEEP ROCKIN!!!!

Anonymous (December 16, 2004)

I can see these guys being over all over MTV in the coming years.

Anonymous (October 20, 2004)

this is the band that gets me through my long nights. i look up to them so much. the cd is amazing along with all of the others (which i have). This is the band that makes me feel so amazing while crying. there is nothing bad about this band, or the record. thanks so much guys

Newsham

Anonymous (October 20, 2004)

Anonymous (August 19, 2004)

Great album... but they ganked their sound from Chamberlain.

AmericanIdle (July 22, 2004)

My favourite Lucero album progression goes like this;
Lucero
That Much Further West
Tennesee

Anonymous (May 11, 2004)

Am I the only one to think that the singer sounds a little bit like Bruce Springsteen at the end of the 70's ???(and that's a big compliment)

anyway this album is great!

Anonymous (May 5, 2004)

lucero rules. the day my band got to open for those fellas is in my top 10 favorite days. i like all their records for different reasons. self titled cause it's raw and just sounds like dudes showed up in a warehouse and recorded some songs one day because it was raining outside. tennessee because it's badass and further west because it's badass. lotta growth.

notaclevername (May 3, 2004)

just ordered this;

they kicked SO much ass when i saw them open for against me! (they played the hell out of "ain't no sunshine when she's gone" [or whatever that song's called])
the singer literally started crying at one point--that's passion for ya

tennessee is awesome, too

Anonymous (May 3, 2004)

The fact that many people still do not know about this band is a travesty and a testament to the fact that music listeners do not get enough options.

Anonymous (May 2, 2004)

it is the disc that comes with TMFW.

at least i got one at the AM show in seattle.

Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

what is this bonus disc you folks keep referring to?

Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

This record is a must listen while you're snacking on chips and salsa!

This score is not only for Lucero but for green salsa!

ifitwasaday (May 1, 2004)

Lucero are beyond awesome live. They will play basically whatever the audience wants them to and never seem to phone it in.
Request "Wandering Star," people! Such a good song. Ben Nichols liked my beanie and loves banter.
The TMFW Bonus disc is really cool. "Coming Home (Acoustic)" is a personal favorite.
They play "Kiss the Bottle" like they own it, and in a way I think they do. I love both versions of the song, but that banjo is always there during the fade-out of my internal thought process sing-along version.

Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

"If Scott and Adam like this album so much, then why it wasn't on any Top __ of 2003 lists?!"

I didn't hear it until a few months ago.

-adam

Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

Eat a bag of dicks, Anonymous. They rule it live.

Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

because it sucks.
this band is boring, especially live.

Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

If Scott and Adam like this album so much, then why it wasn't on any Top __ of 2003 lists?!

KirbyPuckett (April 30, 2004)

Goddamn, this CD is brilliant.

Anyone heard their cover of "Kiss The Bottle?" I made it an MP3 of the Week like 2 1/2 years ago...

I remember it!

- Kirby

adam (April 30, 2004)

I love this band and this record.

-adam

Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

PS This record was reviewed in Rolling Stone right when it came out. If that doesn't count as "press," what does? Again, pwned (What does that mean? One of my coworkers used to write that shit all the time. Hella annoying.)

Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

Did someone wait for the band to get press to be a cynical fuck about the fact that he heard about the band before they got press so that he could claim that the second record is superior to the third record (which it actually is, but that's besides the point)? To Hades with you, wyzodouchebag.

Luv, t3h RealPunx4TehLief

Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

did somebody wait till lucero got press to do a review of a record thats been out for months.

good, but its no tennessee.

wyzo

flummo (April 30, 2004)

This is a damn good album by a damn good band. Excellent live, too. I do like Tennessee better, but this is mighty fine. The second CD with all the demo/alternate versions of the song is interesting, too.

jacobe (April 30, 2004)

This is a great album, although Tennesse is even better.

They are the best live band in the world too.

inagreendase (April 30, 2004)

I actually meant to insert a bad metaphor where I put "insert bad metaphor".

hahahahahahhahahahahah

Fuzzy (April 30, 2004)

SO fucking good.

AmericanIdle (April 30, 2004)

Whoops.com, I actually meant to insert a bad metaphor where I put "insert bad metaphor".

AmericanIdle (April 30, 2004)

Allow to explain the phrase nu-emo i used here; Hot Water Music to me are emo. Saves The Day etc. i consider to be nu-emo.

Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

I will check out this band but please don't use label like "nu-emo" it's awful: the word emo is lame enough not to add something as stupid as the prefixe "nu"

maverick (April 30, 2004)

Goddamn, this CD is brilliant.

Anyone heard their cover of "Kiss The Bottle?" I made it an MP3 of the Week like 2 1/2 years ago...

-Scott

Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

fantastic album