Music Style Post Punk

Group Members Jason Parker - vocals, bass Justin Howley - guitar LDZ - drums

Albums Lure of the Animal

Press Reviews www.splendidezine.com I was first introduced to Lure of the Animal at the last show of the vastly under-appreciated Raft of Dead Monkeys (who split up due to singer Jeff Suffering's desire to concentrate more fully on his other band, Suffering and the Hideous Thieves). Before Lure went on, a friend of mine told me that they were "kinda garage rock, but with the best bass player you've ever heard in your life". Well, he was pretty much right about the bass player bit; although perhaps not the best I've ever seen, Jason Parker is certainly a force to be reckoned with. The fact that he's also the singer makes his work even more impressive. However, the description of Lure as "kinda garage rock" pretty much misses the point entirely. While there certainly are elements of garage rock in their sound -- mainly in Parker's raw-throated vocals and the guitarists' sleazy, dirty lead lines -- there are also many other elements that influence the group's sound. In fact, Lure's greatest strength is that they are not a one-trick pony. Although this self-titled CD (which, for some reason, the band was giving away after the show, though I would have been more than happy to pay for one) lacks the sheer intensity and energy of their live show, it still displays a young band in peak form. A track like "Shots in the Hall" can go from a dissonant, screamy verse to a soaring chorus with an amazing, melodic bass line, to a great, Fugazi-esque bridge with the guitars locking in unison and the bass carrying the melody. Although the band maintains an upbeat, aggressive tone throughout the album, there's more then enough variety here to keep me happy. From the straight-up riffage of "Smear Campaign" to the poppy, piano-led instrumental "Cornstarch March" to the damaged, garage-y funk of "Canvas", these boys make it clear that they have quite a few tricks up their sleeves. Even when the guitars are a-snarlin' and the singer is a-growlin', the band has the smarts to inject the requisite amount of melody into their tunes, making them catchy and addictive. Betwixt the thick riffage of tracks like "Sissy Has Scars" and "Smear Campaign" lurk melodic, spooky organ lines, and when you least expect it, the guitars and bass will come together, poking a truly anthemic, melodic moment out of the mix. The disc is fairly brief, but Lure of the Animal displays more than enough ingenuity and inventiveness in these eight songs to make me believe that they have a truly excellent full-length in their near future. I await it eagerly. -- Jeremy Schneyer

Location seattle, wa - USA

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