Lucius - Good Grief
4/10
If you lived through the 80s, the co-frontwoman of Lucius may seem familiar. Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig have matching quiffs, dramatic make-up and show stopping outfits. Pair that with Lucius’ '80's synth melodies, and Good Grief is almost a time machine.
Opening track Madness does what it says on the tin - it’s melodramatic pop recounting point blank gunshots, runaway brides, and escaping time. “Wake up, it’s not real life” Laessig and Wolfe wail. Thank god. Melodrama is central to Good Grief, whether it’s through soaring orchestral choruses, abrupt key changes, or dramatic song titles. In some songs, e.g. Gone Insane, melodrama overwhelms. Gone Insane’s theatrical wails and repetitive lyrics become jarring, and not in a good way.
There’s a stark difference between that and tunes like Almost Makes Me Wish for Rain which channel Madonna’s penchant for clever, catchy pop. It’s not all '80’s though; Dusty Trails nail sombre folk, a la First Aid Kit.
Producing stand-out, progressive pop is difficult. Unfortunately Good Grief falls short. There are some stand out singles, but too many songs fail to dazzle, despite all the melodrama. Add Almost Makes Me Wish…, Dusty Trails and Madness to your Spotify playlist, but I wouldn’t rush out to buy the album in full.
4/10
