Americana Music Reviews

 

Lucky 57
Lovely Melancholy
Looseground

by Al Kunz

Since starting to write for Rockzillaworld I've been amazed at the geographic diversity of the artists recording the music we focus on, alternative country, bluegrass, and twangy roots-rock. Thriving music scenes with an abundance of quality acts in the cities of Texas, throughout North Carolina, and the flourishing alternative that coexists with Nashville's mainstream were no surprise. But this music isn't just a southern thing. My adopted hometown of Minneapolis has a long history of strong folk and roots-rock music communities, but I've discovered it also has an abundance of bluegrass bands. The diversity of bands in all genres based in Ohio has been an eye opener too.

But the biggest shocker has been New England. Rockzillaworld has reviewed discs by Amber Casares, Mary Gauthier, and the Stumbleweeds from the Boston area, which appears to be the center of the New England music scene. Hellcountry, a monthly showcase for regional and national twang acts in Cambridge (a Boston suburb) is in its fifth year and still going strong. But it isn't limited to Boston. Say Zuzu are from New Hampshire. Two compilations (Area Code 207 - volume 1 and volume 2) highlight alt-country acts from Maine (including Slaid Cleaves, a Maine native now living in Austin). Add to this list Boston's Lucky 57.

The disc starts with "Sips of Wine, Coffee Chaser," co-written by Lucky 57 frontwoman Kip McCloud and Tinker Lee Taylor. While not participating as a musician, Taylor wrote three of the nine Lonesome Melancholy cuts in addition to this co-write. In the opener they combine short, pithy lines on an archetypical country music theme with accompaniment that works the fence between the drive of roots-rock and the twang of country.

Self-medicated
Takin' a stroll
You're going downtown tonight
Got a fever in you
Head to toe
So kick it - kick it out

Sips of wine coffee chaser
Few more sips
Memory eraser
Goin' bliind
Tryin' to replace her
Breakin down
All along the way

In addition to McCloud on vocals, guitar, accordion, and harmonica, Lucky 57 is Sue Metro on lap steel, bassist Lil' Phil Magnifico, drummer Todd Foulsham, and guitarist Rustle Chud. Like the majority of songs, several of the tunes on Lovely Melancholy are about love gone bad, love gone good, or just being in love. Magnifico and Chud also help out on vocals, Chud taking the lead on "Lee's World," a song he wrote about love gone bad. His friend Lee "ran away from Dawson in her time of endless lying." Now "Lee's world is goin' to pieces" and he thinks he "may be the next in line." What I found intriguing about this song is that it became more ambiguous over time. After a cursory listen you think you've got a handle on what it's all about. Lee's without a man, isn't handling it well, and the singer thinks (maybe hopes) he'll be there to pickup the pieces. Can't be any simpler than that. Then you realize that Lee thinks everything is fine, or so she claims. Maybe it is. The chance that the narrator is only hoping that Lee's "falling apart" is another possibility. Or maybe Lee does have her sights set on him and he doesn't want the friendship to end, but doesn't want to gamble that he won't suffer the same fate as the last guy. Pretty soon you've got a myriad of possible scenarios, all of which fit the lyrics. Take your pick.

"Never Quite Good Enough Blues" isn't explicitly about love (although it could be). It's much more generic, fitting almost any situation of self-doubt or depression. ("Never would tell you what is wrong / Never would say you did it right / Just sort of keeps you stringin' along / Singin' these never quite good enough blues") Taylor continues working through depression in song with "Busted Up & Blue," the lyrical source for the disc's title.

Woke up this morning
Didn't wanna get outta bed
Lovely melancholy
Conjured up inside my head

You turn to me and say
C'mon let's both stay home
I tell you then and there
That's exactly what I want

You know I'm busted up & blue

Lucky 57 include two cover songs on Lovely Melancholy. The first is William Bell's country-soul classic "You Don't Miss Your Water," probably best known from the Byrds version on the Sweetheart of the Rodeo disc. Also getting a fresh interpretation by Lucky 57 is New York Doll Johnny Thunders' "Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory." These covers illustrate the breadth of Lucky 57's sound, spanning rock and country as do a lot of the alternative country and Americana artists we cover at Rockzillaworld. I was most impressed with Luck 57's'ability to blend these genres. Where most acts have a bias for either rock or country, Lucky 57 blends the two, both musically and vocally, in a way that doesn't favor either camp. Their approach should be appealing to fans of both.

*Listen to samples from Lovely Melancholy at Lucky 57's mp3.com page here http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/158/lucky_57.html If you like what you hear the disc can be purchased from Miles of Music. And for those who live or plan to visit the Boston area check out www.hellcountry.com for Hellcountry's upcoming schedule (normally the first Saturday of every month) and details about the best alt-country artists in New England.

Contact Al Kunz at kunz-at-rockzilla.net

 
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