Lemuria – Get Better

Lemuria – Get Better / 2008 Asian Man / 12 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/lemuria / http://www.asianmanrecords.com /

Lemuria excites me. I had little expectations for the band coming out of just looking at the CD, but it really took me sticking the disc into my player and hearing “Pants” to really get behind the act. There is not really a referent to any of the band’s unique style. Two vocalists – one male and one female – plays a punky type of rock. This is similar in style to acts like Operation: Cliff Clavin and Matt and Kim, but the overall sound of Lemuria is miles away from these two acts. Lemuria comes forth to the quandary of how to create music that is fresh while still playing on the sensibilities of individuals that will ultimately look to purchase a CD.

What Lemuria does to link together tremendous musical ability, interesting instrumental arrangements, and a savvy sound is to link together a number of earlier styles. For example, a track like “Lipstick” is largely based on the work of acts like Blessid Union of Souls and The Cranberries, even as hints of Fiona Apple and Alanis Morrisette (even a little bit of Stevie Nicks) are all present. The band has most of their sound drawn from the alternative rock of the early nineties, but the way in which the album starts – “Pants” and “Yesterday’s Lunch” play on another thread that runs through the disc. The second set of vocals come back to prominence during “Buzz”.

Each of the tracks contain a radio-friendly sound at the core of the track, with the bands unique contributions to music surrounding this nucleus. While the general sort of music that Lemuria plays on “Get Better” is not what is currently popular in alternative and rock rotation radio stations, the skill in which the act crafts this genre of music is enough that it would not be surprising in the least for the act to chart a few times on relevant charts. “Get Better” is the soundtrack for the (non-extant) sequel to “But I’m A Cheerleader”; the perfection of songs during the first soundtrack to “Cheerleader” in creating an overall mood is mirrored quite well by Lemuria’s eclectic approach to the creative enterprise of music. Few acts are able to create such a full album, an album that builds off of each prior track while not allowing the act to rest on their laurels. Check out Lemuria, for they deserve to be given the respect they give to their listeners, through the creation of such an impressive album.

Top Tracks: Pants, Dog

Rating: 8.8/10