You can tell it’s Lucero from the opening strains of What Else Would You Have Me Be and the piano kicks in. True to form Lucero has produced yet another album and maintained a signature sound while not sounding like any of the rest of their work. From the album art to the track layout this album is a winner from start to finish. I have had the MP3 version from the pre-purchase for almost a week now and have been having trouble getting the review written because my favorite parts about it keep changing. I must be a goddamn fanboy because there is nothing I don’t like about this album. Produced by David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven fame the album was not done in tracks but rather with the whole band in the studio all plugging away on each song. The maturity of the band shows very well througout the tracks including nods to 70’s garage bands and 80’s rock and roll. It is an easy listen for fans of just about any genre except hip hop and who really gives a shit about them anyway.

Ben’s vocals, Brian’s guitar, Jon’s bass, Roy’s drumming, and it’s all Lucero from start to finish. The lyrics are heartfelt and belted out in whiskey style with a rhythm that demands to have cold beer swilled while singing along. The references to sailors and the sea draw you in and you have to wonder if Ben has secret dreams of being a pirate. I would say sailor there but Ben would make a shitty merchant marine but a damn fine pirate!

The wait for this album was intense. Knowing the boys change a little bit with every album. Not knowing if I would like it. It was more than worth it. I might do a song by song later but right now I am just going to give it another listen and get to the job. I hate half finished reviews but there is so much swimming around my head on this one that I think it might take three or four posts!