{"id":27326,"date":"2013-08-15T11:40:00","date_gmt":"2013-08-15T11:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/album-review-lydia-devil\/"},"modified":"2023-01-24T14:47:10","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T14:47:10","slug":"review-lydia-devil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-lydia-devil\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Lydia – Devil"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LydiaDespite being in existence (other than a short hiatus) for a decade now, Arizonians\u00a0Lydia<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0have never quite broken into the big leagues. 2008\u2019s essential \u2019Illuminate\u2019<\/em>, a wonderful album, has assured them a solid fanbase, but now on their fifth full-length, Lydia<\/strong>\u00a0may be seeking a more venerated name for themselves. Although it boasts a sinister moniker, \u2019Devil\u2019<\/em>\u00a0sees\u00a0Lydia<\/strong>\u00a0continue in the more melodic and sunnier vein of previous album \u2019Paint It Golden\u2019<\/em>, and its incomplex sound displays a considerable effort to attempt to replicate the successes of peers such as fun. However, do the breezy and airy vibes of \u2019Devil\u2019<\/em>\u00a0suit the quartet more than the autumnal hues of \u2019Illuminate\u2019<\/em>? It\u2019s an admirable effort, but one that sees them slip into American college-rock twee clich\u00e9s (or, if you will, tweech\u00e9s) far too often.<\/p>\n

Lydia<\/strong>\u00a0are formidable songwriters, it\u2019s just sometimes the waft of Gorgonzola from these tracks can be a little much to handle. Opener\u00a0\u2018The Exit\u2019<\/em>, for instance, is a powerful number, but one you can\u2019t help but think would be perfectly suited soundtracking an emotive moment on Fox teen melodrama The OC. When hearing\u00a0‘Back To Bed\u2019<\/em>, I can\u2019t help but think of\u00a0this<\/a>\u00a0Romance On A Rocketship \u201cclassic\u201d, a genuine contender in the \u201cworst song ever\u201d stakes – not necessarily their fault, but ruins an already fairly weak song.This record isn\u2019t terrible by any means, they\u2019ve just become a little pallid and characterless in their efforts to find fame; and though this record came out in March, this is the first I\u2019ve heard of it, so it can\u2019t have made much of a mark.<\/p>\n

There are a few brief moments when this record shows a little grit, such as on penultimate number \u2019Take Your Time\u2019<\/em>, the first sign of a distortion pedal anywhere on this record, and shows they\u2019re still a little in touch with their rawer, more emotive side. Frontman Leighton Antelman possesses talent in his vocal chords, but the band sorely miss the input of Mindy White (now of States), as without the variety White provided, Antelman\u2019s vocal only augments the blandness of this record. Despite their employment of a wide range of instrumentation, including a banjo on (thankfully not Mumford-esque) ‘Runaway\u2019<\/em> and an organ on ‘From A Tire Swing\u2019<\/em>,\u00a0‘Devil’\u00a0<\/em>does not possess a multi-dimensional sound, and ultimately becomes little more than musical wallpaper.<\/p>\n

‘Devil’\u00a0<\/em>serves its purpose as an accessible spring\/summer record, but is far too throwaway to match up to emotional heavyweights like\u00a0‘Illuminate\u2019<\/em>. Sure, bands change in 5 years, but the\u00a0Lydia\u00a0<\/strong>of 2013 have played it far too safe here – their lack of edge and substance has made them generic, and, if I\u2019m allowed to compare a record store (as if anyone goes to those anyway lololol) to a Neopolitan ice cream, choosing\u00a0‘Devil\u2019<\/em>over most things would be like opting for vanilla over strawberry and chocolate – it tastes nice, but irregardless, is the unstimulating option.<\/p>\n

2.5\/5<\/p>\n