"Won't say where it's going/Just that it's our last chance not to be left behind." Those lyrics appear near the end of Attractive Nuisance, The Loud Family's fifth release, and they might just contain a tiny kernel of truth. However, if there is any justice in the world, there is little likelihood of that occurence with yet another four-star effort from this incredible quartet. Front man Scott Miller and company are back in fine form on this standout CD, delivering a complete array of music -- from lovely dark ballads to infectious pop confections.
Some of the finer moments of this offering come with the remorseful "Blackness, Blackness" and wryly engaging "Backward Century." The former is a lush, rueful ode, but Miller's wailing vocals provide heartfelt honesty. "Century" is a tongue-in-cheek, toe-tapping ditty that espouses isolationism as a coping mechanism from one resigned to the powerlessness of changing things.
Alison Faith Levy makes some of the sharpest contributions to Nuisance. She shows flashes of incredible vocal range, and the only complaint is that she doesn't have enough vocal representation on the album. "Years of Wrong Impressions," easily one of the best tracks, offers Levy firing off some of Miller's fine lyrics at a frenetic pace, providing perhaps their most accessible pop tune ever. The equally energetic "The Apprentice" provides another showcase for the keyboardist's vocal talents whose synth work flourishes throughout.
"Motion of Ariel" truly is the perfect conclusion to the album and, most probably, the band's contractual obligations with their current label, Alias Records. The lilting melodies with a tinge of melancholy seep between Miller's intricately crafted lyrics. "I don't know what the radio wants/when the radio taunts," he seems to be confiding to listeners in those lines -- though songs like "Wrong Impressions" disprove that declaration. It might be more accurate to state that Miller, who brilliantly weaves literary allusions into his lyrics, refuses to succumb to those commercial "taunts," and The Loud Family's work is all the better for it. Interestingly enough, this collection of songs successfully bridges that gap without sacrificing artistic integrity. Now, if only the radio knew what IT needed...
If you like The Loud Family, check out:
The Loud Family Days For Days
Michael Penn March
The Beatles The Beatles
-- Paul Barras
