Originally published in Verbicide issue #3

From the moment I first pressed “play” on the stereo and heard the explosive, simultaneous crash of drums, strings, and loud female vocals, I knew that I was a Luckie Strike fan. The first song on The Mercury Project, “I’m Sick,” demonstrates what Minor Threat might have sounded like if they were fronted by a Kay Hanley from hell — the upbeat melodies and beautiful, almost furtively gentle vocals of Letters To Cleo, with a paradoxical aggression that gets your adrenaline racing and creates the urge to crank the volume up. The album is sprinkled with hardcore punk, such as the first track and the ninth track (“Shutdown: Simmer”), but keeps the listeners interest by varying in style. “House Arrest,” “Routine,” and the final track, “Danny Elfman Got Me Dressed Today” highlight the album with catchy riffs and fast beats, and the instrumental fourth track, “Stage One Airlock,” is an enjoyable jam remindful of Fugazi’s Instrument album.

Though there is nothing terribly innovative about this album, Luckie Strike take a traditional punk rock sound and do it better than most. The musicianship and vocals are outstanding, and for these reasons Luckie Strike is among my favorite female-fronted bands. For more information, check out the label site at fastmusic.com.

(Fastmusic, no address provided)