All Things Lucid's Self-Titled Release Fails to Impress

They may be lucid, but they failed to keep my attention.

All Things Lucid
All Things Lucid
Release Date: Jan 26, 2010

I really wanted to like this album, going into it. All Things Lucid holds a special place in my heart, just for being a hometown band. Chicago residents Miles, Mike, Jeff and Paul attempted to step outside their comfort zone on this, their sixth release. I really also want to say that it shows and the result was positive, but I can't. You are reading this review because you want to know the goods on this release, so I'm going to stop prevaricating around the shrubbery and give it to you. When this record opened up I, honestly, though I had queued the wrong thing and that I was listening to Widespread Panic or some re-mastered Allman Bros. That can go either way, depending on how much weed you smoke and when the last time you bathed was. Personally, I'm over that phase, so it was a huge turn-off. The sound, however, is highly polished and expertly recorded which is more than I can say for some Panic or Allman Bros. work. Now, I really can't tear into the record on that merit alone; since having a well-made record is more of a positive than anything. I can, however, rend the LP a new hole for sounding so... safe.

Rock albums don't always have to be about challenging the established order of things or murdering the wealthy, but they do take risks (the good ones anyway). All Things Lucid took a risk by hyping this record as a change for the good; I don't agree. Their "Suburbs on the Moon" brand of Pop Rock was much more palatable & unique to them. It's not often you hear good Midwestern Rock keep to it's bluegrass roots and not make it cornball. So why does every track on this album feature a ham-fisted country twang affected on all the vocals? I really don't remember this on their previous works at all. Oh well, I really do have to assign these guys an "A" for effort, though.

Being an audiophile and a musician I can really appreciate the distinct tones present on all the tracks. I really did enjoy listening to this record, honest, I just didn't find it interesting. From a technical standpoint everything they did in their songwriting as well as recording is fantastic and should be applauded. However the album gets a "C" for style. I'm having a rough time writing this, since everything really is so spot on, but it really sounds like they phoned it in. The songs, to me, lack any sort of personality or energy; coming off over-polished and plastic, occasionally. Again, this is completely overshadowed, to me, by how deftly they executed their sound. That said, this really wasn't something I would listen to more than a few times; but I might play in the background when cleaning. Keep trying guys, just stop listening to my old guitar teacher's record collection for a while. Maybe then you'll find your original sound, again, and stick with it.