Ladyluck

Saddle Creek Saddle Creek Saddle Creek.

They always have good releases, or, at least I think so. But this one, I'm sort of iffy on. Maria Taylor is a Saddle Creek girl. She's the singer songwriter behind Azure Ray with Orenda Fink and when Azure Ray broke up, she released two solo records on Saddle Creek. Except for this one. She split with Saddle Creek and her new record Ladyluck is a singer songwriter, NPR sort of record. I can't say anything really grabbed my attention instantly and none of the songs seemed to feel memorable.

The record starts off with the title track, 'Ladyluck'. The record just seems like it should get better and the second track, 'Time Lapse Lifetime', some more promise, but that track doesn't seem to deliver either. The rest of the record falls short of all my expectations and the record really finds it's spot on the last two tracks. The last two tracks, 'Orchids' and 'Cartoons and Forever Plans' are the best songs on the record, honestly. 'Orchids' is the slow, beautiful ballad-y like song that just makes me want to have a slow montion make out scene with some hot indie artsy girl (Jenny Lewis. Or Zoey Deschanel. Yesssssss). The soft drum tracks that highlight the simplicity of the song are well tracked and well mixed, the guitars perfectly suit the song and everything seems to be right here. The last track, 'Cartoons and Forever Plans' is a up tempo folky singer songwriter song that features full band vocals echoing Maria and every other line. It's just perfect. The bass is bouncy and the guitar makes me sway my head in my seat. That's song song writing right there.

But like I said there isn't anything really memorable about the record except for the last two tracks... Which is seriously dissapointing. I had more hope for this Maria Taylor record then delivered.


Tomorrow: Cursive's Mamma, I'm Swollen. Stay tuned.