This is a pretty big deal for us. Not only do we have the first review of the debut full-length from Boston’s BALUCHITHERIUM but we ALSO are honored to host an exclusive stream of said album before it releases on November 1st. Pretty cool, right? But definitely not as cool as the album we’re about to wax poetic on.
But I digress.
Boston is known to have a pretty eclectic array of artists living under its’ roof and you don’t get more eclectic than the folks who make up BALUCHITHERIUM. They’re kinda Folk, kinda bluesy, kinda Indie, and all Rawk and on Lost Glasses, Empty Love they’ve assembled a collection of tunes that’s sure to hit one of your musical sweet spots without ever sounding disjointed.
“Cape Breton Country Cheese” is just fun and the absolute perfect intro to BALUCHITHERIUM. I’ve said this before of the music coming from Dug McCormack and now I’ma say it again: I truly believe his songwriting/storytelling style is the second coming of Jonathan Richman or, more specifically, The Modern Lovers. Take that statement as you will by I stand but my words.
“My Liver, Your Fault” is a legendary barroom sing-a-long in the making with Ed Dormody laying the twang on thick and Dug McCormack’s organ tones giving the tune a feel of something The Blues Brothers would concoct in 2019. And speaking of livers, this little ditty flows nicely into “2 Beer Minimum” (Get a recurring theme forming yet?) with McCormack’s modulated vox bringing to mind Mark Sandman, another Boston musical luminary who, had he lived longer, might be making music akin to what BALUCHITHERIUM does. Well, maybe a little less Honky Tonk if Sandman was at the helm though but for BALUCHITHERIUM, that works just fine.
“Dog” is the first time the pace lets up on a bluesy little number that sees Dormody behind the mic as a flurry of guitar tones, including some sick slide guitar work, rambles on with Gregg Porter and Michael McCormack’s drums and bass respectively laying the most solid rhythm section foundation down while “Broke Leg Lies” is a song that Johnny Cash would’ve written during his heyday but with a more Punk Rock aesthetic.
Next up is the one-two punch of “Cryin’ Shame” and “Change These Strings” which we reviewed when they were released back in August. For the scoop on those two, head here. “Almost Sorry” is all acoustic-y and somber and then “Third Floor, Please” reads like a Morphine classic (“Top Floor, Bottom Buzzer” immediately came to mind) but in BALUCHITHERIUM world listeners get an instrumental Surf Rawk meets Lounge amalgamation that glistens as it grooves.
“Walkin’ Blues” brings it all together and, sniff, to an inevitable conclusion. Dug McCormack belts out impassioned lyrics with an urgency while the other two McCormack’s, Porter, and Dormody light it up as they shimmy and shake towards an end featuring some fancy shredding that gives way to a huge breakdown to close out the album in a big way…as big as the monolithic beast the band shares its’ name with.
Lost Glasses, Empty Love lands on November 1st and you can EXCLUSIVELY stream the album here and below before the release! The album itself will be available at this location on the day of release as well as at Club Bohemia in Jamaica Plain where the band will be celebrating said release with Hambone Skinny, Sapling, WarGraves, and an acoustic set featuring members of The Runouts. All the deets for that shindig can be found by clicking here. For details on the show and to generally keep tabs on the band, follow them over the internet by clicking here or here.