Lovedrug: Pretend You're Alive
Published August 03, 2004
Being that I am from Northeastern Ohio I retain a certain pride in the region, especially when it comes to the music scene. Consequently, when co-blogcritic person Craig Lyndall offered me an album by Lovedrug, a new Canton band who, according to him, put on a beautiful live show, I jumped at the chance. What's new in Canton?
Lovedrug are a four-piece group in the young tradition of Radiohead and Coldplay who have a few big things going for them-- a tight sound, a good producer, and a phenomenal singer among them. Unfortunately, their debut, "Pretend You're Alive" lacks memorable songwriting and strong lyrics, leaving the impression of a band who has a lot left to prove.
A few tracks impress. The shiny surfaces of the opening "In Red," the disturbing and violent lyrics of "Blackout," and the Coldplayesque arrangment on "Candy" all hint at good things to come, but over the course of the album's 13 tracks ear fatigue sets in and the high points get smeared into a samey haze.
As with most albums I review, I put "Pretend You're Alive" on autorepeat and waited to get sick of it. After five or so straight times through, I wasn't ready to chuck it in the bin (good news) but also hadn't noticed a single transition between tracks apart from the album starting over (bad news). A few more listens and I still wasn't able to tell the songs apart. Although not boring, there's just nothing here that works too hard at being interesting. Although Lovedrug sound great (especially if you really, really like Coldplay) they play like a Saturday Night Live movie of the rock world — a really good four-minute sketch stretched very thin.
- Lovedrug: Pretend You're Alive
- Published: August 03, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Writer: John Owen
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"they play like a Saturday Night Live movie of the rock world -- a really good four-minute sketch stretched very thin."
That right there was very, very good.
I gave my copy to The Duchess, who seemed to like it quite a lot. I prefer to relax to some Rob Zombie, but hey, different strokes and all that. Or something to do with Gary Coleman.
Duke, coming from you that's high praise indeed, and excuse me for a moment whilst I bask in it.
AAAAahhhhhhh.......
As for hundreds of copies turning up in used bins, I doubt it. They're on The Militia Group, who don't have the juice to do a big promo push. You have to sell thousands of albums before hundreds turn up used, and for an Ohio band on a tiny label, they'll be lucky to ship 10,000 and SoundScan 5,000.
They will do way more than 10,000 I would imagine. Probably about 5 times that. The Militia Group has actually come up in the world with bands like The Beautiful Mistake and Noise Ratchet to name a few. Still, my best suggestion is that you should go see them live. They are absolutely captivating. I am guessing this is a major reason why I liked the album better than the rest of you folks.
By the way, Johno, I didn't know you were in Northeast Ohio... I am an eastsider myself.
Craig, in truth I'm a former Ohioan... born, raised and edumacated in Portage County, and I got out as soon as I could. Nothing against Ohio, and in fact I was back there last week (Art Museum, memory lane AKA Coventry, and the Great Lakes Brewing Co.), but I am from the dickweediest of all the small dickweed towns around, and I find the climate of the rockbound coast of Massachusetts more salutary at the moment.
Go Browns.
I stumbled across LOVEDRUG online right before they released their album this summer. I found myself listening to the 3 songs they had online over and over. And then I bought the album, and now it's an ultimate favorite. You mention that if you like Coldplay, you'll like Lovedrug, and that's true in this case, but LoveDrug's music gets under my skin in a unique way. I find my mood shifting, getting riled up along with the emotion of the music, without even realizing it. I was so enamored by the CD that I travelled to see them play live in Philadelphia.
They are even better in concert. All of the songs that can sound a little similar through my speakers, have excitingly different energies when performed. They are a very together group and watching them play will get the music in your head, heart, blood.
If that is how you like your music, to fill your horizon, then check out this band. You'll feel like you've tuned into something special.
"Unfortunately, their debut album lacks memorable songwriting and strong lyrics"...............wrong!!!! Read the lyrics to any song and you would obviously see that every song has some of the strongest lyrics ever written.......the metaphors they use are amazing....I just dont see how you could say that
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So I can expect to see 100's of copies of this in the USed CD section in few months?