Lucero – 1372 Overton Park

It is difficult to describe Lucero‘s sound at times. In short, Lucero write simple songs that anyone can relate to and ever so delicately pulls at your heart strings. The songs are strong and moving, majestic without being self-indulgent and completely captivating all at once. On their sixth studio album, 1372 Overton Park, the band has delivered yet another release that does all of that but they take it even one step further.

At its core, 1372 Overton Park is your classic Lucero album. There’s Ben Nichols’ baritone drawl overtop of a Memphis soul sound sliced together with a punk rock edge. The music pulses with a simplicity that soars through the speakers, grabs your attention and never lets go. Your foot taps along as the music enters you and moves you with the Americana roots and punk ideals.

All of that is still here, but on 1372 Overton Park, Lucero have added one final touch to the mix: a fantastic horn section. The horns add an intriguing element to the sound, making it ebb and flow with more emotion than before as the horns rise up behind Nichols worn and rough vocal delivery. It brings What Are You Willing To Lose? up to new heights and makes The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo sound almost like a Hold Steady track; Goodbye Again has a stronger folk edge but with the horns sound like Attack in Black. It’s a pleasant and surprising addition that works, making 1372 Overton Park much better than it would be without.

Of course, it is Nichols’ mixture of perfect vocals alongside his poignant and relatable lyrics that make Lucero so memorable. Smoke relives a tale of running away and forging a new life ( Too many nights alone/ Too many days gone by/ With nothing much to show/ She was running out of time/ He was all she’d ever need/ If they could just outrun the past/ She said “run away with me.”/ She tried but couldn’t laugh/ He said “lesser men than me have put up better fights.”/ She said “we’re doing pretty good if we can just get out alive”). The songs tell tales of looking for love and nothing does it better than the bare bones, pedal-steel track Hey Darlin’ Do You Gamble? which plainly asks “Darling, would you take a chance on me?” It’s a simple question and a simple line, but mixed within the context and the delivery, it sends a shiver down your spine as it mines a truth and exposes something majestic within a miniscule ideal.

1372 Overton Park is a record that will resonate with everyone, no matter their preference of style or structure. There is something familiar and sincere within Lucero‘s music and that makes it appealing for everyone.