Search - Echobelly :: Lustra

Echobelly's production catches up with its songwriting

woburnmusicfan | Woburn, MA United States | 04/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Echobelly's best album, and that's saying quite a bit. The songwriting, by singer Sonya Aurora Madan and guitarist Glenn Johansson, is as strong as ever, and the arrangements and production are better than on the previous album, "On." Echobelly's previous albums had more of a live band sound, guitar-based and with the guitars sounding pretty much the same on every song. This album adds keyboards and strings to the arrangements, and varies the guitar sounds, resulting in an album that's comparable in sound and appeal to the first Elastica album--both melodic '90s updates of '80s alternative rock. None of Echobelly's power is lost in the transition. Some fans didn't like this change in Echobelly's sound, but it makes for a more satisfying listen. This version of the CD includes five B-sides that weren't on the original release; four of them are better than most bands' A material.The 17 songs contain over a dozen memorable tunes, from the brooding "Bulldog Baby" with its pulsing synthesizer to the effortlessly catchy "Iris Art", from the stuttering guitar of "Here Comes the Big Rush" (Madan's night out with a cross-dressing friend) to the obsessive "Drive Myself Distracted" and the powerful strings on "Wired On". By rights, "Angel B" should have been used in a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episode somewhere along the way."

OUT OF A LIFE PUT ON HOLD

EriKa | Iceland | 10/04/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a good effort, but it does not measure up to On. Here you will find tantalising sound, luscious vocals and a few examples of clever lyricism, but overall On would be the better purchase if you are making a choice between the two. Highlights here include "Bulldog Baby", "Out of the breakdown of the whole, back to the choices on repeat, out of a life put on hold"; "Welcome to the new dictators. Power drugs and imitators". "I'm Not A Saint" is a great rallying point... and in "Everyone Knows Better" "Sunshine-a ray of hope in a hopeless situation. Suntanned-your reward for the hopeful hours that you spend-burning.""

Echobelly's LUSTRA is Brooding British Brilliance!!!

woburnmusicfan | 06/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a follower of Echobelly ever since their first album EVERYONE'S GOT ONE (aka EGO) hit the shelves in 1994. It had an indescribable catchy verve to it. Quite interesting. Then in 1995, ON was released and they topped themselves with an even more self-assured and excellent album. It wasn't for about three years that they finally gave us LUSTRA. This album, I feel, is the group's crowning achievement. One has often heard that the third time is the charm; LUSTRA is no different in this respect. Though the music and lyrics are darker and more dense, the original Echobelly personality shines out in every track. On this American release, you get five additional tracks that were once the elusive B-sides on the single releases. With seventeen tracks of musical bliss, one cannot help but succumb to the spell that is spun by Echobelly. I can only hope they continue to produce such high quality music for years to come. Check it out for yourself."