Gong Show
Artist: Blame Lucy
Label: Gray Dot
Length: 12 tracks / 38:57
A few years ago, exhausted by grunge's lengthy radio reign, it seemed
many were once again proclaiming rock'n'roll to be dead. A new king was
named: electronica. But if you turn on alt/rock radio or even Top 40 these
days, you'll notice that the throne hadn't changed families just yet. The
second or third generation grungers like Creed and Days of the New have
joined grandpa Pearl Jam and tons of energetic, post-grunge popsters like
Semisonic, Matchbox 20, Big Wreck, and dozens more in still filling the
airwaves.
Blame Lucy falls happily in that last group, modern rock given life
by grunge's last gasps but drawing on plenty of syrupy pop hookery to keep
going. They remind of Common Children vocally and musically, only without
that band's acoustic and aggro-extremes. The vocals move between modern
Beach Boys-ish harmonies and that clean-with-a-hint-of-raspy-whisper style
of Common Children. The tempo is pretty even throughout the album, but
there's definite variation in the guitar tones and songs. Nothing new or
exceptional, just average, well-played modern radio rock that you can belt
along with as well as any radio-hit band. The lyrics are personal but full
of Christian thoughts and themes, so that the average believer will be
able to follow right along in agreement. Good stuff.
By Josh Spencer (10/27/98)
