Despite being a relatively new band, Philadelphia’s Luther have certainly been making waves and names for themselves; being a band that has played shows with the likes of Hot Water Music, The Smoking Popes, and The Bouncing Souls definitely gives off a sign that they’re doing something right. That sign is concrete proof once you listen to their début full length ‘Let’s Get You Somewhere Else’ released on The Bouncing Soul’s label Chunksaah records.
Musically this album feels like the sun rising on an autumn day, a record that just gets you in the mood for the day ahead despite the harshness of winter that is fast approaching. Like power rock masters Hüsker Dü, Luther utilise lo fi instruments that shrill out great hooks of melodic bait but with added punk rock grit. Such a sound acts as a catalyst for huge choruses that are simply brilliant for the ears; this formula is played out wonderfully on ‘The Glory Bees’ and ‘Backyard Fence Appeal’. The vocals are quite reminiscent of Chris McCaughan of The Lawrence Arms and Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids, really light hearted and soft without border lining cringe territory; in other words just perfect.
<a href=“http://luther.bandcamp.com/album/lets-get-you-somewhere-else” data-mce-href=“http://luther.bandcamp.com/album/lets-get-you-somewhere-else”>Let’s Get You Somewhere Else by LUTHER</a>
No power pop rock record of this magnitude would be complete without heart on sleeve lyrics; Luther does just that, whether it’s about girls, being stuck in a rut or a midlife crisis, Luther keeps it honest, personal and relatable. Whilst on one hand such themes have been heard before in this ilk of music, the band manages to pull it off without heading down the tedious and daunting path.
There are a few minor problems that prevent it from being a perfect album however. For instance the co-operative handclaps and drums that open ‘Rattlesnake’ sound a tad synchronized and a little underwhelming. The other nagging moment is that ‘Let’s Get You Somewhere Else’ simply just lacks something; that sense of expecting more than you bargained for whilst you are listening to the album.
Regardless of such hiccups, Luther have managed to make a solid piece of material that simply defines what a mainstream pop rock band should sound like, melodically charged and grit fuelled honest music that’s not too over produced and cringe worthy. The abrupt end of ‘The Farmer And Her Wife’ definitely makes you want more and feels as though the band are laying the foundations for something wondrous and compelling.
3.5/5
‘Let’s Get You Somewhere Else’ by Luther is available now on Chunksaah Records.
Luther links: Official Website|Facebook|Twitter
Words by Aaron Lohan (@ooran_loohan)
