Lukestar - Alpine Unit

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 4 / 8 / 2004

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Review

I sort of have a feeling that people will have made up their minds about this band within thirty seconds of hearing the first song on this album, so in response to this I have compiled a series of different reviews to suit the various different potential responses this band will provoke. This approach just felt right. At different times, I am all of these people, and that scares me. REVIEW # 1 (the short, informative but unilluminating review) Lukestar are from Norway, and they play poppy, upbeat indie rock with a darker edge at times. They have had a track featured on the latest chapter of the Emo Diaries compilation series on Deep Elm. If you like Saves The Day, Brandtson, Get Up Kids and perhaps a bit of Muse and Placebo then give this CD a spin. REVIEW # 2 (The absurdly negative review) Lukestar are an Emo band, whatever the hell that means. So they play simple pop-punk with whiny vocals and soppy lyrics. Most of the songs are quite catchy, in an annoying way and I found them blandly enjoyable until I realised that most of the songs sound exactly the same, and they all have predictable chord patterns, except for a couple of obligatory slowies that the band put on there so the ‘emo-kids’ would have a song to stick on a mix-cdr they’re making for someone they’ll end up being ‘friends’ with… This is boring. There is no hint of concession to any idea of progression, there is no attempt to break free of the hideous clichés they routinely embrace, and the vocalist seems to think that the only way you express yourself is by whining. Where is the passion for new sounds, the love for a variety of music, the irony, and the references to art, literature. Where are all the things that make all the bands I love so great? REVIEW # 3 (The excessively positive review) Lukestar are my amazing new discovery. They play amazing emo rock, every single song is catchy and gorgeous and all have emotional, sensitive lyrics. The band definitely fit into the category of upbeat emo, but all those comparisons to Saves The Day are just idiotic. The band has the patronage of some of Norway’s leading bands, and they deserve it. Besides, they must be great because Deep Elm chose them out of all the bands that applied to be on the final Emo Diaries compilation. Fans of Deep Elm would love this CD, even though it came out on a smaller UK based label. The band really shines, and they don’t make the mistake of overreaching themselves, and though they do add some subtle keyboard effects and clever ideas in production, they basically capture their live sound. I can’t wait till they come to my hometown. REVIEW # 4 (Measured, ‘analytical’ review) Whilst Lukestar are not going to change the face of rock and roll as we know it, this is a pretty reasonable release from a promising band. Singer Truls Heggero may not have the best voice in the world, and his lyrics may verge on the simplistic but he sounds as if he loves what he does and takes it seriously. There is a lot of variety in this EP. Even though it may sound a little too poppy for some tastes, the songs are actually quite melancholic and the textured production gives the music an epic feel that is certainly effective and sets them apart from the ‘Emo’ pack. You can see what attracted Deep Elm’s attention, and you also get the feel that the band could expand their sound and make some great music. They remind me a little of Crosstide, who put out a strong record on Engineer a while ago. These songs will get into your head, but the album is probably unlikely to make anyone but the most obsessive fan of indie-pop-rock’s year-end best of list.

Track Listing:-

1 Introvertical
2 Explorer To Receive
3 A Place Apart
4 It's O.k Amigo
5 Ride, Colt Zigma, Ride
6 Lukewarm In The House
7 Take You Home
8 China Nights
9 Masn V.s Light
10 The Glowaway