Lid
In the Mushroom

I'm not a big fan of either Trouble or Anathema, but the Stoner label among the genres related to this album convinced me to give it a couple of listens...

Lid was formed in 1996 after the breakup of Trouble, with the main protagonists being Eric Wagner and Danny Cavanagh (guitar in Anathema), accompanied on bass and drums by the Reeves brothers. This is a cunning piece of work, starting with a bang, the self-titled "Lid" is full of energy, an intro to get the crowds hyped, a guitar free and happy, charismatic vocals, but it's just an illusion. The stoner ends there, for the rest I should switch from "stoner reviewer" to "pop rock" reviewer to speak well of this work, in fact, the rest is a series of sugary ballads ("Mary Agnes," "The Dream is Over," "For All My Life," "RX") that just make me want to listen to some Brutal Death Metal just to balance things out. Do the titles say it all, right?

The album barely stays afloat and is saved from a one-star judgment thanks to the dark and sad atmosphere of "Randy Scouse Git," which along with "Lid" are the only two songs able to convey something, the only ones worthy of the fame of the two protagonists (perhaps a bit too much protagonism given the cover and what came out). Also, watch out for the (really) "subtle irony" of "Alive," a mix of punk bits and soundtrack that has the feel of a black and white Walt Disney cartoon.

In closing, I can say it was a real disappointment. For us poor "stoners," only "Lid" and at times "In the Mushroom" are worth it; the rest, you can leave to the Vasco Rossi fans who feel like listening to something in English... The style is the same!

Moral: Eric and Daniel... better each on their own.