The press material for Lucer’s latest album lists them as one of Denmark’s most popular rock bands, and while I really can’t prove or disprove that here in the United States I did some quick Spotify dives to find out more about them and the newly released L.A. Collection. Where albums like 2015’s Bring Me the Good News and 2019’s Ghost Town went for a mix of modern alternative rock and hard rock with some nods to the past, for L.A. Collection they’ve decided to look back towards the types of rock that inspired them to startLucer. The result is an album that doubles down on the bluesy grooves and attitude of acts like AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, and even The Hellacopters. Although the sound is a very familiar one, the group manages to nail it with catchy hooks and energy that remains consistent from beginning to end.
Since I was unfamiliar with Lucer’s prior material, I went into this one with the assumption that their other albums were pretty similar to this high octane and rough-edged rock ‘n roll. So I was pretty surprised when the singles from Bring Me the Good News and Ghost Town showcased a much lighter, melodic sound that had a bit more of an alternative/pop rock meets stadium rock type feel. It’s clear that these guys have opted to change gears a bit and dive fully into some of their influences for this record, and that fun, no bullshit attitude translates through to the songs themselves. L.A. Collection wears its influences on its sleeves, with quite a few of these riffs sounding like they could’ve been ripped from peak era AC/DC or Rose Tattoo albums. There’s plenty of that Scandinavian rock ‘n roll attitude and nonstop energy as well, with the volume and rawness of the sound also channeling a bit of The Hellacopters. But while it’s not going to win any points for originality, there’s still something about this particular rock style that proves to be enticing when it’s done right, and that’s where Lucer succeeds. Songs like “Roll the Dice” and the appropriately named “Vintage Rock ‘n Roll” have those type of immediate hooks that make you want to crank up the volume, and the material proves to be consistently enjoyable even if some tracks stand out a bit more than others.
Lasse Bøgemark does his best Bon Scott impression for much of L.A. Collection, but he does head into some other pitches depending on the song. It’s pretty spot-on for those that really like AC/DC, and I can appreciate that unlike some of the other groups going for this same sound the performance doesn’t always come across like a carbon copy. Bøgemark does nail the attitude and energy though, and that often makes it sound like these tracks are begging to be played in a packed dive bar. The lyrics retain this fun and lighthearted approach too, and you can’t help but love a rock song called “Stabbed in the Kneecap”. Hard rock continues to live and die by the quality of its riffs and its singing, and Lucer delivers on both.
Albums like this always bring up the argument that people could just as easily go back to the classics and not worry about bands paying tribute like this. But in my view, given the age of many of the classics, why shouldn’t a newer generation channel it and provide familiar but new hits? If this was Lucer’s third album straight of AC/DC worship that didn’t change the formula much I’d probably be a bit less enthusiastic but seeing how this deviates quite a bit from their other two albums the nostalgic approach works in their favor. Fans of classic blues driven rock ‘n roll will want to check this one out, and I’m curious if their next full length will have a bit of old meets new to the sound. L.A. Collection is available from Mighty Music.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to share it with others to help us grow. You can also like and follow us on the social media of your choice with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and support us on Patreon.