The Lucksmiths - Staring at the Sky
August 5th 2006 03:11
THE LUCKSMITHS
Staring at the Sky (1999)
Candle Records
Produced by The Lucksmiths
Myspace page w/ songs info
Time for another Lucksmiths review! This is just a six-track EP the band released at the tail-end of the last century, but contains some real gems and some of my favourite songs in their extensive catalogue. Once again, they stick to their tried and true formula of catchy, boppy tunes mixed with slow droning ballads. They also continue their unique approach to writing clever, witty lyrics and irresistable melodies, although "Staring at the Sky" has a bit more instrumentation than other releases.
My favourites here include the awesome lead track "Smokers in Love" - a lovely boppy number that is filled with some very effective harmonica (which sounds a lot like a melodica) and great lyrics musing on the day-to-day lives of two smokers ("happy and hungover, on the first day of October / struggling to remember, the last night of September") - and the sprawling pop of "The Golden Age of Aviation" which rides on a fantastic piano line and employs the use of a brass section. Quirky lyrics and a funny speech by the Queen about the aeroplane make this song another winner.
Of the other 4 songs on offer, for the most part it's a fairly downbeat affair (yes, it's Lucksmiths in that "other" mode). Apart from "Before the Sun Came Up", it's slow, it's sweet, and it's still very much great. The songwriting shines through a bit more I'm think and the songs are way more subtle, still using other instruments and layering the sounds, but creating more of an atmosphere than an immediately catchy riff or phrase.
I really don't dislike any of the songs on "Staring at the Sky" - it's another one that's really a must for any Lucksmiths fan. Only 6 songs, but they are all really good and have definitely stood the test of time (well not that long actually, but I've never gotten sick of them is what I mean)
Staring at the Sky (1999)
Candle Records
Produced by The Lucksmiths
Myspace page w/ songs info
My favourites here include the awesome lead track "Smokers in Love" - a lovely boppy number that is filled with some very effective harmonica (which sounds a lot like a melodica) and great lyrics musing on the day-to-day lives of two smokers ("happy and hungover, on the first day of October / struggling to remember, the last night of September") - and the sprawling pop of "The Golden Age of Aviation" which rides on a fantastic piano line and employs the use of a brass section. Quirky lyrics and a funny speech by the Queen about the aeroplane make this song another winner.
I really don't dislike any of the songs on "Staring at the Sky" - it's another one that's really a must for any Lucksmiths fan. Only 6 songs, but they are all really good and have definitely stood the test of time (well not that long actually, but I've never gotten sick of them is what I mean)
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Comment by rhys
on The Lucksmiths - Staring at the Sky
Well they've released a fairly staggering amount of recordings in their time. They've now got so many songs since their first demo in 1993 if I remember correctly. Their website has a lot of helpful information, but one thing that might be good to talk about is a real maturity that has crept it's way in over the course of their career? And also experimentation with many different instruments in the studio too...?
Good luck anyway man!