The Lucky Ones – Heartbreak, Hangovers & Punk Rock

Label proprietor Steve Stumble may have created a safe haven for local rockabilly and psychobilly acts, but his own project, The Lucky Ones, is pure punk-rock.  So much in fact that their prior release, The Booze Sessions, was one big alcoholic haze that begged the question of whether the band could survive on more than lyrics about six-packs and hard liquor.  Well, the Montreal band has returned to answer that question with a pleasant surprise in their formal follow-up, Heartbreak, Hangovers, & Punk Rock.

The band has tightened up without losing any of what makes them tick.  While clearly still very much under the influence, The Lucky Ones harness traditional punk rock energy not unlike that of The Dropkick Murphys or Pennywise.  Songs like “I.O.B.D.” and “Bring Back The Punk Rock Tonight” explode with killer riffs and deadly speed, climaxing during the chorus with huge street-style gang vocals pushing Steve’s aggression over the edge.  Those like “Demons & Dreams” place the focus on thumping rhythms and big “woahs” with stringy guitars that sound as if lifted from pop-punkers The Copyrights.  The band is at their best when letting their guard down and just rocking out like the best of them.

But the band also maintains a lighthearted, fun-loving side.  Tracks like “Ain’t Coming Back” and “Road Dog” guzzle down the goofiness with their well-structured hooks, rounding out all the rough edges.  Sometimes they go a little overboard though – songs like “Billy The Kid” coming off a tad cartoony in style.

By and large lyrics remain an afterthought, although as previously mentioned Stumble has expanded beyond the typical drinking songs. “I Got Booze” and “Cheap Wine” prove that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but their stories of life on the road (“Sold My Soul”) and nostalgic flashbacks (“Summer In The Streets”) make for a sufficiently well-rounded outing.  And the effort put into personalized numbers like “Demons & Dreams” doesn’t go unappreciated either.

Heartbreak, Hangovers, & Punk Rock is a notable step up from The Booze Sessions in style and substance.  I had my doubts as to whether The Lucky Ones could survive beyond their initial drunken recording session, but Heartbreak, Hangovers, & Punk Rock quells my skepticism.  I can now safely say that The Lucky Ones are well worth checking out and anticipating their future output.