Too many times, an artist is prejudged by their appearance. To the uninformed listener, unaware of Austin’s past musical history in other bands and general appearance, Mr. Lucas would probably be stereotyped as a cowboy wearing country musician who happens to be a bit down on his luck. Actually, Austin Lucas is a veteran of heavier bands Rune, Twenty Third Chapter, and K10 Prospect who are apparently worthy enough to be put in the press release for this record. It is strange to go into the music with this knowledge, because this music is so far removed from that. Austin’s previous bands are much more heavy and dissonant, that in a roundabout way it almost makes sense that he would want to return to his childhood roots and play well…country and bluegrass soaked folk music.
This is Lucas’s second full length, but his first available here in the U.S. His first full length “The Common Cold” was released in Europe to critical acclaim and sadly since it has not been readily available here in the States, it is quite a shame that “Putting the Hammer Down” will be the first time that many listeners will get a chance to hear Mr. Lucas. The album, which is quite enjoyable and filled with soulful ballads and lamentations, is not even close to being as coherent and focused as “The Common Cold”. Part of what makes a good album is not just good songs, but a context for which they can be judged, not just on their own but as a whole. But part of what makes a great album is a consistency not only theme but in the way the songs are constructed and sequenced. That is not to say that the songs on “Putting the Hammer Down” are not among the best that Mr. Lucas has to offer. “Hollywood” and “Man Alive” are both great songs, but they get lost in the muck that results from only 8 songs being not only long in length but not flowing well in the least. It seems like the songs leap from one to another and certain parts of songs that were really beautiful are never revisited again, like the guitar sounds on “Hollywood” or the trading of male/female vocals on “Tall Dark and Handsome”.
Next up for Austin is collaboration with former Hot Water Music front man and newfound solo artist Chuck Ragan that is sure to attract attention to Mr. Lucas stateside. The passion that seeps through on all the songs that Austin Lucas has created is rare in such stripped down music. Too many times there is a corny over emotional quality that floods songs or attempts at being over whimsical that ruin any sort of genuine emotion. Austin and his father Robert, as well as a host of others seems to jell well enough, but it is Mr. Lucas himself that seems to fall short on this release. His future is promising, when he focuses on a commonality in his music. “Putting the Hammer Down” isn’t bad, we should expect better from a such a virtuoso as Austin Lucas, which will be a name that will be heard again and again in the upcoming years
Post new comment