Top Sounds - L

LENNY LASHLEY’S GANG OF ONE - Live {Pirates Press} This guy is becoming a big hitter in the House Of Scanner of late. This is a ten-track digital only release recorded live in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and is just LASHLEY with his guitar, a microphone and his rather sublime songs. For those who may not know, he was founder of Boston Punks, DARKBUSTER and is also a member of STREET DOGS. This solo stuff though, is just wonderful - think TIM BARRY, AGAINST ME! and MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG with a voice that can soar and songs that go even higher. Not a duffer on here - be it opener ‘Double Miner’, both ‘Live Like Lions’ and ‘Two Robbers’ that have guitar work that would not be out of place in the very best of Folk clubs or closer that sees Lashley blowing on a harmonica in a way DYLAN would now be envious of. These songs tell a story, have a conscience and are just down right well crafted gems. Roll on some new material! (23.05.21)

LICHER, BRUCE - Exploratorium {Independent Project Records} Good Lord - four tracks over 48 minutes? That’s tough on the House of Scanner attention span!! BRUCE LICHER is the founder of IPR plus part of the bands SAVAGE REPUBLIC and SCENIC. This solo project was recorded back in 2006 and is mainly atmospheric synth stuff recalling Side Two of DAVID BOWIE’s ‘Low’. The first three tracks formed the original release while the 26-minute (yes, a two and a six - that’s not a typo) bonus track, ‘Number 09’ is a tribute to THE BEATLES’ ‘Revolution 09’. Have to say, it didn’t do much for me at all, although ‘The Penstemon Field’ did a decent job of fusing the moodiness of JOY DIVISION with the panoramic soundscapes of SCENIC. Great packaging again from IPR with the over-sized CD sleeve, inserts and printed inner CD sleeve. Background music at best. (24.01.23)
LURKERS, THE - Sex Crazy {Damaged Goods} PODCAST PLAYED Following on from the single below, this is the band’s first new album in four years. It kicks off in fine style with the lead track from the single below before we get another 12 slices of LURKERSness. Of the highlights you get the previous single, ‘Electrical Guitar’, the sauntering ‘London Jeepster’, ‘High Velocity’ that features Danie Centric from THE FEATHERS on vocals and ‘Magical Times’ that flows on a great melodic guitar lead while highlight has to be the already-classic and, I’m assuming, autobiographical ‘The Boys In The Corner’ which is a tribute to those no longer with us and carries even more weight in the wake of COVID-19. Have to say though, a negative is the rather cliched title track. It probably takes a few plays to really get into also; an initial listen is a bit like LURKERS-by-numbers but there is some quality substance to these songs that deserve repeated listens. 1,000 limited vinyl copies (two different colours). (08.03.21)
LURKERS, THE - Fits You Like A Glove {Damaged Goods} This is the original LURKERS, the one featuring Pete Stride, Esso and Nigel Moore (rather than Arturo Bassick’s version) and is a prequel to the new album, ‘Sex Crazy’. You get two tracks, kicking off with the title track and you’re virtually taken right back to ‘God’s Lonely Men’ - classic sounding LURKERS: melodic, singalong, swaggering Punk Rock ‘n’ Roll. Flip the wax (yellow vinyl in this case) and you get the exclusive track, ‘When You Are Borderline’. It sounds a little under produced compared with the lead track, but again it’s another snappy slice or LURKERS loveliness and kinda reminds me a bit of THE BOYS, or more specifically THE YOBS but minus the Christmas sentimentality. This is limited to just 500 too, so if you want one you better be quick. (07.01.21)
Click HERE for material reviewed prior to 2021 including:
LAGWAGON, LAST GANG (2 reviews), LAUGHING IN THE FACE OF..., LAWRENCE ARMS, LEFTOVER CRACK, LENNY LASHLEY'S GANG OF ONE, LES BLACK AND THE AMAZING PINK HOLES, LILLINGTONS, LION'S LAW, LITTERBUG (2 reviews), LONG RYDERS, LOS PEPES, LOST TAPES, THE LOT, LOUDMOUTH and THE LURKERS