Luna has had their share of critical and audience acclaim. Since "PupTent," people have told me "You have to hear Luna! They're the bestband in the world and they..." blah blah blahblahblahblah. Yeah, okay.So a couple of their records have had some good songs on them. But istheir press way off? Are they really that incredible a listeningexperience? Nope. In fact, "Romantica" shows the same weaknesses theband has always had, even while showing some new strengths off in grandstyle. Jetset is their label du jour (their third in three years), andLuna are now getting a push from the same marketing team as Sigur Rosand Flaming Lips. All that marketing isn't going to save this albumfrom its own cracks. From the first song, 'Lovedust', this seems like astrong release. In fact, it's one of the best songs Luna have everrecorded. Unfortunately, the chords are so similar to 'Glycerine' byBush, I can't stand listening to the song. That, and the lyrics are sobad, which is the main problem with the whole release, and most Lunareleases. Sample: "When candles light themselves/and the air turnscreamy/why not take a photograph?/you look so dreamy." Not since Iheard Elvis actually sing "dig" and "groovy" have I been repulsed bysuch words. Not satisfied? Fine: "Goddess of shadow, lipstick, andscent/where did you end?/apricot candles and blackberry pie/is it atime bomb i see in your eye?" See? It's obviously a record of adorationand devotion, but there are way too many references to eyes, sleep, andstrange objects (bamboo chairs?). It's so frustrating. With DaveFridmann on the production team, this is the best Luna have eversounded, and the music, with the exception of the first track, is verycrisp and delicious. So why do the lyrics suck so bad? And why doesDean Wareham sound so much like Tim Booth all of a sudden? I don'tknow. But I'm incredibly underwhelmed by it all. But not surprised.
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