Indie pop four-piece Lucius have been around since 2007 and have already put out three solid records, but there is a feeling after listening to their fourth and latest LP, that the band is finally moving from the constant “ones to watch” lists to mainstream success.
The 11-song self-titled self-produced record, while not flawless, is still filled with plenty of addictive sing-alongs and moments of sweet, often stark vulnerability. The album was a completely Lucius affair, with their drummer Dan Molad serving as producer and the members all opting to keep the writing and recording a fairly closed circle affair, opting to record partially at home (complete with dogs barking in the background on some tracks) and with fewer contributions outside the band than some of their more recent efforts. Along with Molad, the band includes Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe (both on vocals and synths), and Peter Lalish on guitar.
For the uninitiated, the opening track, “Final Days,” is the perfect intro to the band and goes to show why everyone from Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow to Jack White have sought out the group over the years. Laessig and Wolfe’s harmonies are pristine, and the mix of swirling guitars and New Order-level synth lines create a soundscape that seems to come from a band twice the size of Lucius. Songs like the addictive “Gold Rush” and the steady “Old Tape” are just as impressive.
Despite those highlights, the album starts to lose steam halfway through. It drags a bit on “Mad Love” and “Stranger Danger,” two of the slower, more minimal songs on the record. But the band gets its footing again with “Impressions,” featuring Madison Cunningham. The album closes strongly on “At The End Of The Day,” a powerful, earnest ballad complete with strings.
This self-titled album finds the band at a time when they’re putting down roots, finding partners and building families. Rather than sidelining the group, these changes have actually served them well, allowing the band to coalesce into a stronger, more consistent unit. The album keeps a lot of the fun experimental nature of their first couple of releases and blends it with a much more confident lyrical side that doesn’t shy away from personal revelations and vulnerability. As a result, it’s the perfect record to introduce the band to a much wider audience.
