Over the fading outro of “Hey Rosie”, track 3 on The Lucky’s forthcoming album Swimming Invisible, I found myself reflecting on raw, unaffected songwriting. Going for it all with every ragged, stage-drawn breath. No room for pretense, just a near-compulsion for thrashing strings bloody and smashing sticks to a pulp—all borne from the simple joy found in expressing your chosen art form as you see fit.

 

Ably assisted by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound Studio, The Lucky’s originating duo of Camilla Camille and Iason Mac Ai have captured that often studio-elusive, “will they or won’t they” vibe of a full-throttle, go-for-broke live show. Their urge to rattle a watching crowd to its very bones is palpable, translating well in a medium often ill-suited to containing such energy.

 

Alternating between two lead vocalists sometimes brings jarring tonal shifts, but Camilla and Iason handle said duty changes with aplomb. Studio contributions from Josh Enyart, Jonathan Thatch, and Nic Jarret further impart these thirteen tracks with unrivaled eclecticism and simultaneous cohesion; repeat listenings reward one with a greater sense of the oeuvre grab-bag from which The Lucky works, while reinforcing the compellingly catchy undercurrent to the entire affair. 

 

“Red Heart/Red Lover,” the last-minute addition, pounding album opener, features the band in its active incarnation with Calandra René on bass and Dustin Mott on drums. As an indication of its live prowess and things to come, portents shine brightly from that first squeal of unruly feedback.

 

Join The Lucky tomorrow, May 23, at recordBar for the release of Swimming Invisible. Special guests Sextonic Plates and Now/Here will also play. Facebook event page.

  

Mark beats the drums in Dolls on Fire and slaps the bass in Riot! Riot! Riot!. He high-fives too hard and has the perfect Darth Vader voice.