Lucius- Lucius
Label: Fantasy
Producer: Dan Molad
Produced with Americana heavyweights, Dave Cobb and Brandi Carlile, 2022’s Second Nature found singers Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig once again demonstrating how far-reaching their unparalleled harmonic magic and chameleonic stylistic inclinations truly were. The record blended the signature Lucius alt-rock sound with a dazzling dance heartbeat, and showcased some of their finest compositions to date. Arriving three years later, and in their typically evolutionary way, its formal follow-up and the band’s self-titled fifth album is a completely different animal. It reunites Wolfe and Laessig with original bandmates, drummer Dan Molad (who also produces) and guitarist Peter Lalish, therefore it’s only fitting that it finds the band returning to their more core rock soundscape, while unveiling another stunning harvest of songs that continually excavate the emotions caused by life’s one constant: change.
Deeply resonant and thoughtful as always, the songs throughout Lucius tap into life’s continual life cycles. The gripping opening track, “Final Days” kicks this off in epic fashion, with its reflection upon the mortality of both our relationships and ourselves. This segues into the rollicking “Gold Rush”, an arresting pure rock performance that seems to beautifully cascade between life’s uncertainties and the people and places that center us throughout those times of doubt, all of this illustrated gorgeously through the cascading heights of both the vocals and instrumentation on the track. In many ways, the underlying emotional dichotomies of “Gold Rush” serve as the perfect anchor of the entire set, mirroring life’s constant need for balance between the need to to evolve and the foundations that give us comfort, stability and strength. It’s a more than fitting theme as the record finds the band returning full-circle to their original line-up, and collaborative roots.
Romance is also another leading compass through the turbulent undertones of the record, with the band clearly celebrating the solace provided by a life lived with one’s soul-mate. These emotions are on the kind of evocative display that only Lucius could provide through tracks like “Do It All For You”, “Mad Love”, and “Hallways”. That’s certainly not to say that the band doesn’t explore loss or heartache throughout the record. There are crossroads moments like the jaw-droppingly beautiful “Borderline” or the Madison Cunningham-featured “Impressions”, where tough choices must be made to leave behind burdens and relationships that are no longer in service to us. But then there’s a track like “Orange Blossoms” or the lead single and surefire standout, “Old Tape”. Tracks that also celebrate how nostalgic memories and even regrets trapped in the past can also bring us comfort and guidance in the present. Wolfe and Laessig’s generational harmonies on the latter, combined with the fiery guitar solos of The War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel makes for a new high-water mark sonic moment in the band’s already prolific catalog.
The record poetically closes with “At the End of the Day”, a moving portrait of two parents and how their once passionate relationship had to reinvent its strengths and evolve its priorities–and tolerance for loneliness– in order to survive. Like the couple in the song, Lucius too had to both evolve and reignite the centralizing bond that had been there from the beginning. And that’s the thing about true full-circle moments. Yes, they may return you to a familiar place, but they cannot take you back to the same time. You’re now further shaped and molded by the experiences life has given you in the intervening period. But when you can blend that newfound wisdom and perspective with the core spirit and foundation you’ve returned to, you can be stronger than ever. That’s the kind of beautiful transformation and growth that Lucius not only accomplishes, but also beautifully narrates, throughout this gorgeous album. And that’s why they are, and will continue to be, one of the very best bands to be found across any corner of the popular music landscape.
Track Listing:
- “Final Days” (Jess Wolfe, Holly Laessig)
- “Gold Rush” (Wolfe, Laessig, Dan Molad)
- “Do It All For You” (Wolfe, Laessig, Molad)
- “Mad Love” (Wolfe, Laessig, Molad, Peter Lalish)
- “Stranger Danger” with Taylor Goldsmith (Wolfe, Laessig, Molad)
- “Hallways” (Wolfe, Laessig, Molad)
- “Old Tape” featuring Adam Granduciel (Wolfe, Laessig, Molad, Oliver Hill)
- “Impressions” featuring Madison Cunningham (Wolfe, Laessig, Madison Cunningham, Ethan Gruska)
- “Borderline” (Wolfe, Laessig, Molad)
- “Orange Blossoms” (Wolfe, Laessig)
- “At the End of the Day” (Wolfe, Laessig, Molad)
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