Lucero
When you found me

The Lucero, a glorious band of former Memphis wastrels, have filled songs, stages, bars, and theaters with regrets, lost loves, and stories about war over 20 years of career. And, above all, a lot of alcohol: you would listen to them and feel like sipping a beer (let’s make it two...come on, it’s Saturday: let’s make it 3).

Helping you in the alcohol escalation was Ben Nichols (author of music and lyrics) - a crumpled James Dean with the voice of someone who spent an entire night arguing with his girlfriend. In the rain and without a jacket. In January.
All this until 1372 Overton Park, a fantastic 2009 album loaded with horns, sparkling pianos, Stones-like riffs, and, okay, I’ll write it, plenty of Memphis Sound. Some knowledgeable ears might even add Springsteen and Replacements; the guys won’t be offended.

Then good old Ben (brother of director Jeff Nichols) falls in love, gets married, becomes a father, and stops barking at the moon (also because I don’t think he had much of a voice left after decades spent tearing his vocal cords in the worst bars in America with hundreds of concerts a year).
Result? 3 good albums, but nothing to rip your guts out for.

When you found me, the band's tenth album released at the end of January 2021, is no exception: produced by Matt Ross-Spang like the previous "Among the Ghosts," it is noted for a darker and more cinematic sound than its predecessor. The lyrics are sparse, the characters are barely sketched, and the songs seem like soundtracks to faded movies.

The novelty, compared to the past, is the presence of a synthesizer played by Rick Steff, and it's a pleasant surprise as it enriches songs like "Pull me close don't let me go," a sweet lullaby to sing to his daughter.

There are other successful songs as well, such as the acoustic "Coffin nails" - another story about war - the spectral overture of "Have you lost your way," and the romantic and concluding title track. Also noteworthy are "The match" and the uptempo "Back in Ohio" with a glorious Big Man-style saxophone break.

Ultimately, nothing unpleasant under the sun but nothing to add to the playlist to listen to before the end of the world. Ah, if only Ben had bothered to scratch at least one vocal cord!