Lemuria
Get Better
When I listen to music with a critical ear, my mind always wanders away from who and what, drifting to the subject of when. How can I connect the dots from what I’ve heard before to what I’m hearing now? An album may have a 2008 release date, but from what era does the sound originate? Is it 60s pop? ‘77 punk? 80s metal? For some unknown, illogical reason my brain equates chronology with credit. If it’s been done before, then bam – instant demerit. Lemuria has me rethinking my mindset. While many bands are followers, it is possible for a band to simply approach the musical time line on its own terms. This trio of friends from Buffalo, NY aren’t behind the times, they just took their time.
The sound of Get Better is firmly planted in the 90s alt-pop/rock section of the history books. Those were good times back then, when the lines of indie rock and power pop and punk roamed freely across the landscape, and bands with brains and talent found the intersection of those lines, usually for the better. Myself being a fan of said era, I’ve got the sudden urge to gush forth a zillion references. Aside from possibly being a soundtrack for My So Called Life (I’m sure the group wouldn’t mind sharing that credit with Madder Rose, Buffalo Tom, and the Lemonheads), my ears pluck other tidbits from the “alternative” decade: A riff here reminds me of the indie pop group Verbana, a riff there brings to mind Superchunk, the smart-punk tone reminds me of Jawbreaker and/or Discount. On some notes, drummer/singer Alex Kearns reminds me of a less croaky Brad Roberts (c’mon now, when is the last time you’ve heard the vocalist for the Crash Test Dummies mentioned in a review?!). Perhaps more impressive is the peg-dodging vocals of guitarist/singer Sheena Ozzella, whose voice ranges from sweet to powerful, but not once treads into twee or riot grrl territory.
The album leads off with the crowd favorite “Pants”, whose chorus comes at you as if running up a hill, measured and purposeful, if only just to traipse back down again. This even, tempered approach is maintained throughout Get Better, and makes for the unique case of being one of those rare albums that’s good at any volume. The guitar and bass are clean and exact, but never betray the album’s dim, introspective mood. The drums are driving but always staying within the speed limit. Even the songs finish in a “hold it!” fashion, stopping abruptly so as not to get carried away in a crescendo or fade away into irrelevance. “Lipstick” and “Hawaiian T-Shirt” have ridiculously slow but immaculately presented payoff (or more accurately, jackpot) choruses, the value of which increases exponentially depending on how many people are singing along. Another highlight is the double shot of “Length Away” and “Dog”, the latter of which showcases the band in a punkier setting, but also gives us Ozzella’s best vocal performance on record, maybe even one of the best I’ve heard from a femme-rocker in a great while (er, possibly not since the 1990s?!).
The album clocks in at 28 minutes, but with no duds in the bunch and plenty of repeatable hits, it’s a worthy investment. We’ve got a bona fide early contender here, folks.
More linkage: Lemuria on Myspace
Recent Comments