Search - Luna 2 :: Lunapark

12 years and going strong

Mary McDonagh | Seattle, WA USA | 01/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe I bought this CD almost 12 years ago it's still in my current rotation. This is a classic CD and I can't imagine my life without it. There are so many songs that fascinate me with their wit (Slide, Slash Yuor Tires) and many that make my heart ache (Time to Quit, I Want Everything.)This CD makes it into my top 5 CDs of all time."

Urban Sound with a Country Twang

Greg Cleary | Marquette, MI United States | 02/26/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Luna did not really perfect their sound until their second album, "Bewitched," but it is this very fact that makes "Lunapark" an essential part of any Luna fan's collection. The sound of this album is more jagged and more spontaneous than anything they've recorded since. Some of the tunes here, like "Time" and "I Can't Wait," are rather nondescript, but most are above average and "Slide" and "Slash Your Tires" are Luna classics. More importantly, all the songs work together to establish a mood. Dean Wareham's lyrics are clever and amusing, often dealing with romantic obsessions. The object of desire hovers just out of reach, somehow eluding the protagonist without even trying. But it's all part of the game, and what a fun game it is. (Luna would explore this theme again and again, especially on the underrated "Pup Tent.") Though Dean Wareham is often compared to Lou Reed, and for good reason, I believe he has more in common with Neil Young. Like Neil, he projects warmth and quirkiness, with none of Reed's forbidding coolness. There are no folk songs here, but there is a slight country twang that gives a distinctive edge to Luna's polished urban sound. This album was the first of a string of very good releases from Luna."

The true Luna

Mary McDonagh | 02/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band seems to have become a little side-tracked lately. Their last two albums haven't measured up to the brilliance of the first three, although they do have their moments. This one is my personal favorite. "Anaesthesia" and "Crazy People" are just about perfect. "Hey Sister" is grand like the best Galaxie 500. Wareham, master of the slow and expressive solo, showcases some of his best guitar playing. The lyrics are also above average on this one, with lots of memorable lines ("I look at my dog / We're both confused" "All my nasty habits / Are walking further away" "Hey soldier, hey soldier / Things die on their own"). He even sings a little better than usual."