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So let me sum up Lucero for you: They took the spirit of the Replacements, placed the heartfelt lyrics of Sunny Day Real Estate, the D.I.Y. eithics of Dischord Records and the whiskey drinking of the deep south, shook it all up and made a band. This basically should be enough for any person to realize that they should take their fingers out of their ears and stop bitching about stupid ideas like "punk rock" and what not and listen to one of the best bands that has come out within the past decade.

The record starts out with "Sweet Little Thing," and this sets the record off on a tangent of songs that can't but help pull at your heart and make you need a night to drink it all away. The disc then moves into the next standout track, "Nights Like These," that perfectly depicts the way one feels when they have finally realized that what they have: love, friends, family, anything that holds a deep bond within your soul and the loss of the closeness that was once felt. Another favorite is "I'll Just Fall," which shows us that need a night to just get away, release your mind and just fall out on the floor and replace your mind with thoughts of how you're going to get home in the morning. No matter where you are.

This record, compared to their most recent releases such as That Much Further West and Nobody's Darlings, is more of a self-deprecating record of anything else. This is not their best overall release. This is not their masterpiece. This record is not meant to be the record that revolutionized the world. This record is a collection of songs that you can listen to late nights when you are depressed, drunk, down and have nowhere else to turn. Ben Nichols has personified the feelings of loneliness and heartache and pain that one feels for longing and hatred of a close relationship. If you are looking for the songs that Lucero has perfected into "their sound," these are the signs to the early beginnings of that. They all follow a common theme: liquor, loss, and love, and I swear, sometimes that's all you need.



People who liked this also liked:
Lucero - That Much Further WestAgainst Me! - is Reinventing Axl RoseThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!The Lawrence Arms - The Greatest Story Ever ToldAgainst Me! - As The Eternal CowboyGaslight Anthem - Sink or SwimLucero - Rebels, Rogues, & Sworn BrothersLucero - Nobody's DarlingsBouncing Souls - The Gold RecordThe Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America



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    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 19, 2006 at 2:56 PM (EST)

    gaycero? Your wrong.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 8:58 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    The DVD is very disappointing. Score for this CD, the band, and the Jawbreaker cover.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 18, 2006 at 6:46 PM (EST)

    gaycero, amirite?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 17, 2006 at 9:47 AM (EST)

    this is EASILY their best fucking release.

    without a doubt.

    In my top 5 most listened to/favorite albums of all time.

    Posted by swingline on 2006-02-15 20:58:04

    "So I go to their myspace and they've got a trailer for their new DVD. Basically all they talked about was how they want to get on a bigger label and play to more people, unless I didn't understand. It was just like the AM! dvd only less interesting."

    it might have been filmed during their tour with against me. i know lucero was in against me's dvd though.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 7:34 PM (EST)

    Though it may just be me; but I cannot get over the fact of how much the singers voice resembles Kurt Cobain's voice in the beginning of "Darby's Songs".

    Posted by Cos on 2006-02-14 17:21:19

    The DVD itself isn't that great.

    Posted by darkstarm on 2006-02-14 11:59:36

    So I go to their myspace and they've got a trailer for their new DVD. Basically all they talked about was how they want to get on a bigger label and play to more people, unless I didn't understand. It was just like the AM! dvd only less interesting.

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2006-02-13 19:02:40

    gay

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 4:42 PM (EST)

    I hate the word "heartfelt"

    thehandshakepact

    Posted by benz on 2006-02-13 14:01:12

    every BMX kid i come across loves this band. they have a big BMX following, probably 'cause their music is featured in a lot of videos

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 1:09 PM (EST)

    Great songs about love and loss, that in a way help you get through it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 12:49 PM (EST)

    "it's the singers voice that turns me off. if he'd just sing in his normal voice instead of trying to sound like a country punk it would be a bit more believable. to me it sounds fake."

    "That's what I thought at first, too. Then, I saw them live. That is his real voice."

    really? because i don't seem to remember him having that twang in Red 40

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-02-13 12:27:48

    "it's the singers voice that turns me off. if he'd just sing in his normal voice instead of trying to sound like a country punk it would be a bit more believable. to me it sounds fake."

    That's what I thought at first, too. Then, I saw them live. That is his real voice.

    Posted by Cos on 2006-02-13 11:57:37
    My Score:

    Tennesse, That Much Further West, and Nobody's Darlings are so good that I have difficulty choosing. In a pinch, TMFW is my favorite. I loved Nobody's Darlings but it took a good month to grow on me, as it was quite different from a band known for doing slow, sad country rock songs. Anyone having trouble with that record should stick with it; like Against Me's last one, its rewarding.

    Also, the live bonus CD from "Dreaming In America" is awesome--new version of "Kiss The Bottle", Ben playing "Nights Like These" alone with his guitar, and a revved-up "Tears Don't Matter Much" are only a few of the highlights.

    --Cos

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 10:58 AM (EST)

    it's the singers voice that turns me off. if he'd just sing in his normal voice instead of trying to sound like a country punk it would be a bit more believable. to me it sounds fake.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 10:24 AM (EST)

    If slow dancing or Darbys song doesnt move you in some way...youre too jaded for your own good

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 10:22 AM (EST)

    1. Old Attic Tapes (yep)
    2. Tennessee
    3. S/t
    4. TMFW
    5.Nobodys darlings

    any takers?

    Posted by hey_sailor on 2006-02-13 08:27:38
    My Score:

    Here At The Starlite is such an amazing song...

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 7:53 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    By far one of the best bands ever covered on this site. It makes me sad to see so many nay-sayers. This band deserves so much more than all of this negative shit talk from fans of today's horrible 'punk' music.

    I prefer thier self-titled over this but this has Chain Link fence which might be one of thier best songs ever.

    Posted by logan on 2006-02-13 07:19:49

    i have tried time and time again to get into this band.. but it never really works out. i'd really like to like this band .. but they just are hitting the wrong chords with me.

    whiskeytown.. now there's a band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 1:56 AM (EST)

    This band is good, but they're no Whiskeytown or Uncle Tupelo.

    Posted by plaidical on 2006-02-13 01:42:46

    if I have to be the Lucero troll, I accept.
    these guys suck

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 at 12:54 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    "my best girl", hands down.

    Posted by xote on 2006-02-12 23:52:31
    My Score:

    I Enjoy

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 11:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Old Sad Songs is the knock, short n sweet.

    ~ Alex P. Keaton

    Posted by benz on 2006-02-12 23:43:00

    really good cd.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 10:07 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Lucero is pretty good but I wouldn't rank them one of the best bands of the last decade.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 9:21 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "This is not their best overall release. This is not their masterpiece."

    I, and many I know beg to differ. This was the peak. A perfect record. You can't play americana/country/roots whatever and have someone call your record 'self-deprecating' as its defining quality. It's like calling an NWA record 'urban' with negative intent.

    Starlite Diner still owns me. the 'hey' in the middle end of that song gives me shivers.

    wyzo

    Posted by BTown on 2006-02-12 19:18:43

    I like these guys.
    Also, maybe it's just me, but do they not play enough shows in their hometown?

    Posted by SuperRad on 2006-02-12 18:46:29
    My Score:

    This is hands down my favorite cd of all time. All time! Ever.

    Posted by Anchors on 2006-02-12 18:05:49

    Great record, but "Mine Tonight" is still the best song they've ever written.

    Posted by OnTheAttack on 2006-02-12 17:44:10

    "When You're Gone" is the best song from this record.

    Posted by swingline on 2006-02-12 15:52:48

    i like the s/t more.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 2:45 PM (EST)

    lucero. hmm. isn't that the lotion i rub on my vagina every night?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 1:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Probably my favorite Lucero cd.

    Posted by skaboom on 2006-02-12 13:23:07

    So basically they're an emo band? Neat!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 1:12 PM (EST)

    scott-
    yes, this record is definitely worth the purchase. can't believe you were bored with 'darlings. odd. i thought that record was their coming out party...of sorts. this is late-nite, too many shots of jack, i hate where im at-but it could be worse- music.

    yes, tennessee is awesome.

    and they're doing two shows at SXSW so i'm fucking stoked.
    -TOBB

    Posted by maverick on 2006-02-12 12:40:49

    Okay, all I have by Lucero is:

    -Nobody's Darlings (way boring and disappointing)
    -That Much Further West (I really like it, but I think it gets too long)
    -The Attic Tapes (I rarely listen to it, since the songs sound so simplistic and not really hashed out)

    But, overall, I do enjoy this band, especially live. So, based on my judgements above, will I like this record?

    -Scott

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-02-12 12:28:48

    I really prefer That Much Further West. I've never really gotten into this one.
    They're both better than Nobody's Darlings.

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2006-02-12 12:27:41

    This is the best week of reviews in foreverrrr

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2006-02-12 12:22:39

    Good ass album. And is it me or is this the album ever other Lucero fans measures against?
    Personal Lucero favorites?
    -Dante

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-02-12 12:06:50

    It's acoustic and catchy like Rumbleseat, but Lucero doesn't just sound like an acoustic Hot Water Music. What I've heard of Rumbleseat is good, but it just sounds like a fun little side project. Lucero is sweet, though I'd recommend That Much Further West if you're looking to buy a Lucero album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 11:40 AM (EST)

    By reading this, to me, it sounds a lot like Rumbleseat. Any comparisons?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 11:24 AM (EST)

    Lucero are simply amazing.

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