One shot of women, one shot of work. One shot's sweeter but they both can hurt.

I am anything but a music snob.  I'm not saying that I like or even enjoy all types of music but 6 years of working in college radio, most of it spent reviewing albums for every genre imaginable, has made me very open minded when it comes to music.  Just because something doesn't necessarily appeal to my taste doesn't automatically make it "bad."  It can be well executed technically which, by default,  makes it "good;" whether I like it or can't stand it doesn't change that fact.  Preference, when it comes to music, is something that's very arbitrary and personal and, for that reason, I've never really understood people's need to judge others based on it.

With all the albums I've listened to and reviewed over the years, however, it takes something really special to get me excited.  It might be a band I've never heard before -- in recent years, for me, that's been The Gaslight Anthem and Fences -- or just a new release from an old favorite.  Currently, it's the new Lucero album Women & Work.  I am downright obsessed.

When Women & Work was first released, I streamed it repeatedly on Rdio.com; it was on a loop at my desk while I was in the office and streaming from my TV and computer at home while I was cleaning, cooking, or doing other assorted chores.  It made my $4.99/month subscription seem like a steal.  Since I knew I'd be seeing them perform in Rhode Island this month, I decided to hold out to buy a physical copy as I'd rather purchase it directly from the band than from some conglomerate.  The date of the RI show happened to coincide with Record Store Day and, as part of the celebration, Ben and Rick did an in-store performance at Newbury Comics in Warwick, RI.  If I wasn't in love with Lucero and the new album before, that intimate set was enough to seal the deal.  Ben, with his white v-neck and tattoos, and his guitar in hand, sang in his signature gravelly voice.  Rick, who reminds me of a lovable tattoo artist I know from the Midwest, was there with the most amazing accordion I've ever seen.  Together, these two gentlemen knocked out some new songs, some old favorites, and a few requests.  It was enough to send any fan (regardless of gender) reeling.  Having only heard a handful of songs, with nowhere near a full band, my friends and I left elated and in eager anticipation of the performance that lay ahead that evening.

Forgive the poor quality, my cell phone camera & shaky hands don't mix well.

I was in no way, shape, or form disappointed that night.  We arrived at the Met a bit late, having missed the opening act, but were right on time for a drink and Lucero's set.  The crowd, most having had their fill of whiskey and beer, were in high spirits as Lucero took the stage.  Again, they played an assortment of selections, both new and old, a much beloved cover of Jawbreaker's "Kiss The Bottle" and, again, took audience requests.  While they did mix things up, there was an emphasis on the new record, with at least 5 of its 11 tracks being played.  I've spent a lot of time in RI in the course of the last year and it seems, at least from an outsider's perspective, that it's a pretty tight-knit scene.  Still, to me, it was astonishing to see an entire crowd of people singing and dancing together like old friends; it's a far cry from larger New Haven shows.  At the end of the set, you could hear chatter throughout the room; some praise, some complaints.  A handful of fans were not thrilled with the amount of new songs played.  Those same fans, most likely, that aren't that thrilled with the new album as a whole.

Musically, Lucero is a blend of everything great.  Drawing on indie rock roots, punk influences, and a country/folk twang that can surely be attributed to their hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, the band is hard to define.  The best I can say is that it's southern rock done 100% right.  The band, in its various incarnations, has been putting out music for the last 14 years and it doesn't appear it will be stopping any time soon.  A decade-plus can often result in a stale sound but Lucero hasn't let that happen.  With each release their sound has grown and evolved and the result is nothing short of phenomenal.  Over time, the band has grown in size to 8 members, allowing for the addition of keys, an accordion, and a small horn section (sax & trumpet).  Those recent additions are a main focal point on the new album.

Some devout Lucero fans aren't fond of the new album but, perhaps, they're just not fond of change.  I, personally, love the new spin they've put on their sound.  A vinyl junkie, I purchased the LP (which came with a CD to boot!) after the show.  As soon as I got home from RI the next day, I popped the record on my trusty Crosley and the one-woman singalong/dance party began.  And it lasted for hours.

The band's frontman Ben Nichols, equates Women & Work to a typical weekend.

“You work all week, thinking about women and the weekend,” says Nichols. “’Downtown’ is Friday night, ‘Go Easy’ is Sunday morning. The rest of the record is the party in between.”

And it is a party, indeed.  Owning the album on vinyl, however, has given me a new perspective on it. After listening to it in its entirety a few times, I found myself returning the needle to the start of side A, playing it over and over again, neglecting side B.  There's something in those first 6 tracks that just pulls me in.  The melodies are catchy and give my feet an involuntary urge to move.  The lyrics are memorable and are the ones I find myself singing throughout the course of the day.  That's not to say the latter half is a disappointment; that is not the case at all.  It doesn't share the same dance-able gusto as the beginning of the record but the lyrics are still heartfelt and the music is still top-notch...and the addition of a gospel choir surely doesn't hurt.