lucero

that much further west

‘Ben Nichols has a scratchy voice. It’s deep and leans to the side of slurred. He’s not classically trained as a singer. That never stopped Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen, though. Like Bob and Bruce, Ben plays by his own rules and is fully capable of achieving greatness.

It’s a quality that earns Lucero records a good reputation. Beneath their country tinge, Sun Volt comparisons are inescapable. As the songs approach their bridge or breakdown parts, it becomes painfully evident from the built-up progressions that this group was influenced by late Jawbreaker.

So, what do a bunch of non-equivalent comparisons say about Lucero? They say that the band can do it all, culling genres from clear across the board. The best part is, it all happened somewhat incidentally.

Ben Nichols never intended to start a country rock band. He never even played guitar or sang for a band before Lucero. He was just asked to do it and, with an effortless shrug of the shoulders, he grew to be a well-respected songwriter.

The old adage proves true once again; the best things happen when you’re not trying to force them to happen.

“This is the first band I’ve ever been in where I didn’t feel limited by the music,” Nichols admitted in a previous interview with the Colorado Daily. “We can play loud and fast or soft and slow. We can do whatever we want.”

It shows on “That Much Further West.” On first listen, you have no idea what to expect next. A song that lulls and calms may very well be followed by a song that releases relentless aggression. It follows no cohesive pattern, no rhyme or reason.

To further add to the innovative structure of the record, a second disc is included for your listening pleasure. Every song on the album proper has an alternate track on the second CD. Tigerstyle Records suggested to the band that they release the double disc. This way, people would have the ability to choose which way they preferred to hear the songs.

It’s an interesting approach that may just inspire other artists to do the same. Why wait for the B-Sides album to release demo versions of songs? Do it all at once! At twice the product for half the money, you avoid running the risk of it being called a copout. This way, it’s innovative. Way to be trendsetters, Lucero.