Damn! That Was Easy. The Lucid Furs

The Lucid Furs? It took a few seconds for the name to sink in, at the moment that I gave it a thought. Instantly I thought of two songs, 66th And Crimson', that great, sleazy rock song by Vancouver, Canada duo Death Goldbloom (yes, a 6 short, but listen to the song first!)) and 'Father John' the single by Dutch band Lucifer that impressed me so much as a young adolescent. When The Lucid Furs sing about "666" in 'Pull The String' at some point all my suspicions were confirmed. Would I be writing this if I didn't like the music on offer? Of course not. Damn! That Was Easy is a fun rock album, with a, only slightly, dark edge and loads of melodies that turn the combination of rock with good melodies into good songs.

Does The Lucid Furs take itself seriously? Listening to the music, I can only state, yes, of course. Reading the Bandcamp page of the band, I'm less certain.

"Four depraved souls here to wash your minds with their heavy blues rock concoctions. To hold on to your morality and chastity DO NOT listen to The Lucid Furs!".

Unfortunately for me, I only got warned after listening to Damn! That Was Easy. Just so you know my present state of mind. All kidding aside. I was attracted to the music on the album straightaway. Without being original, the band is influenced by classic rock from the late 60s and early 70s with Led Zeppelin as the first band to mention. This is the kind of music I want to hear when I'm in the mood for classic rock, even when made and recorded 50 years later. The Lucid Furs offer exactly that. Arguably with one difference, the band seldom, if ever, goes totally over the top.

Promo photo

With Damn! That Was Easy Detroit band The Lucid Furs releases its second full length album. A female singer with three long-haired bearded musicians around her, playing rock music, without being afraid of coming close to a disco rhythm infused with funk chops over the solid rock it plays. Like the band's most famous predecessors it is able to play within the genre and touch upon different elements to incorporate successfully into the music. Exactly why it is fun to listen to this album. (Like 'Cluster Funk by Death Goldbloom, go and listen to it.)

In Karen O'Connor The Lucid Furs has a vibrant singer, scaling all the songs with ease. The trio behind her operate as a classic rock trio: Dan Regenauer on drums, Nick James on bass and Gordie Kasza on guitar. All three sing behind O'Connor creating a call and response vocal style in some of the songs. It is obvious they are not stuck in one hole. The variety in the way songs are approached and the differences in rock styles the band is capable of playing successfully, is what makes the album even more attractive. What is easy to spot, is the electric blues taken to the next level, like bands like the already mentioned Led Zeppelin but also Heart did in the 70s. There are also more modern influences hidden in parts of songs, like QOTSA rhythms, but blended with a Cream era Clapton like solo. It all comes together in a song like 'Pull The String'.

All who love, loud classic rock, led by a great female singer, good melodies, accompanied by some razor sharp soloing and not afraid of a band taking the foot off the gas a little here and there, should check out Damn! That Was Easy, as the album delivers it all and perhaps a little more. Yes, it has all been done before and I just do not care with an album like this.

Wout de Natris