Sunday, April 29, 2012

# 4 (TM) - Lydia Loveless - Indestructible Machine


21 year old Lydia Loveless (who name conjures up a goth country diva) initially impressed with "Steve Earle", a fitting "tribute" that paints Earle as a stalker of sweet young things who "won't stop calling me" and "just wants to write some songs", but all she wants is for Steve "to please introduce me to your son", the ultimate backhanded compliment. And it's just the tip of the iceberg for Indestructible Machine, an album awash in that Old 97's galloping backbeat, but recasts Rhett Miller as Loretta Lynn.

But mostly this album recalls the glory and go-for-broke-ness of the debut Lone Justice record, especially on the roiling "
Bad Way to Go" and the unapologetic war cry of "Do Right." Loveless may not possess Maria McKee's wondrous range, but that's really praising by faint damn. Loveless is a take-no-prisoners storyteller and the freshest new female alt-country voice in recent memory.

Lydia Loveless - "Steve Earle" (from Indestructible Machine)
Lydia Loveless - "Alison" (Elvis Costello cover from her "Bad Way to Go" Record Store Day 7")

1 comment:

Peter said...

Steve Earle (which I think is about Micah Schnable) is one of the weaker songs on the record. Crazy, Can't Change Me, Do Right, and the magnificent Learn To Say No make this one a rock solid classic.