LEMURIA
PEBBLE
JANUARY 1, 2011
The cover is a simple black & white picture of the two main members that have withstood the many comings and goings of their bass players. Who will be the third member of the band and will they have staying power? It is a very simple cover that reflects who they are as a band but does not begin to touch on who they are live.
This was a much anticipated release for me personally after i picked up "Get Better" from one of our local libraries and just could not wait to get it rolling out my speakers. As 'Gravity' began there were moments of disappointment waiting for the kick where this band would take their music to another level and it happened 2:32 seconds later when 'wise people' made me a believer.
Bridge 9 records seems to have been a good fit for Lemuria after all. They have allowed the band to continue with the style that the band has built without pushing them to incorporate a more dramatic hard-edge style. This is exactly what Lemuria needed to advance their career and get the message out. 'Ribcage' relies on the bass line to drive the song while the guitar gives the feel of swirling and spinning.
The opening track should have been "Ribcage" because it definitely is a great continuation from "Get Better." 'Different Girls' lyrically is another writer contemplation and that is what makes Lemuira work. Internal observation with word play has always allowed listeners to enter a song and allow it to become part of their own lives. Lemuria does this better than most bands out of buffalo these days. Each song after 'Ribcage' should have appeared in this order but earlier on the disc.
Musically, they have stayed within the realms of what has worked for them. There are moments the listener would really enjoy them just breaking out a bit and incorporating something new. They stayed just a little too safe and did not attempt to show the listener that they had more to contribute. I have always been on the side of encouragement to give the listener a bit more than what they bargained for when they purchase a new cd.
When their songs play within the rotation of my mp3 player they are distinctive and the production is of only what Lemuria and Doug White could produce. The sound is strong but we can only hope that if a third disc is released they would take a bit of a chance on expanding.
RUSTY
1/11/11