The Lydia Loveless experience begins before one even listens to a note – the cover art is an illustration of a red-headed girl chugging from what appears to be a gas can. If that isn’t an indication of what is to come, I’m not sure what is.
Loveless is a spit-fire 21-year-old from Columbus, Ohio who sings with both restraint and attitude. It would be easy to call her country, but that doesn’t tell the full story. Her Bloodshot Records debut moves effortlessly from acoustic ballads (“Crazyâ€) to country gems (“How Many Womenâ€) to full-on rockers (“More Like Themâ€). I’d probably best describe her as being schooled in country music yet blessed with a rock and roll heart.
The album opens with a fury of electric guitar and banjo on the raucous “Bad Way To Go.” “Well if I said I’m sorry, you should have known I’m really not, ‘cause I don’t need to apologize for giving all I got,†declares Loveless in a statement that sets the stage for the songs that follow.
“Steve Earle†is an entertaining romp that projects the tale of a stalker onto the persona of musician Steve Earle. “He stands outside my window until I have to call the cops, but they always let him out of jail ‘cause he is a famous face,†she sings, “that’s a funny way of asking me to go on a date.†One wonders what Earle thinks of this song.
Loveless explores her country side on “How Many Women.†“How many women does a man need, how many before he stands on his own feet,†she asks, “how many hearts will he break, how much time will he waste, how many women does a man need.†Speaking on behalf of my gender, I’m not really sure how I should take the indictment of men that emanates from the lyrics. Nonetheless, the song has a likeable country shuffle.
“More Like Them†opens with a hearty riff before the rhythm section kicks in with a healthy beat. The song finds Loveless trying to explain her independent spirit, not all that believably declaring that she wishes that she was more like “the kind of people who feel sad when relationships end.â€
Indestructible Machine heralds the arrival of a great new musical voice.
Audio Download: Lydia Loveless, “Can’t Change Me” [audio:http://twangville.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/02-Cant-Change-Me.mp3]
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.