(Elektra)
At first listen, seems like a debut album from a band that deserves to get one song on the latest teen movie soundtrack.
Lucky Boys Confusion could easily be grouped with bands like Lit and American Hi-Fi, but the absence of songs about girls who do not love them as well a few glimmers of musical experimentation give Lucky Boys Confusion an edge.
Produced by Michael \Miguel"" Happoldt of Sublime, is described as a ""journal of the hardships, trials and small victories that most bands endure just to keep their heads above water"" by band members Stubhy and Adam Krier. The music is not ground-breaking, nor is the image of the band, but the lyrical craftiness of many songs is the most distinctive characteristic of the album.
begins with average music, with the first few songs failing to exceed any expectations. With lyrics like ""I don't want to stand here and say I'm sorry / I just wanna drink beer and play Atari,"" the band plays it safe and appeals for a Top 40 hit. But by the eighth song, ""Sunday Afternoon,"" the Lucky Boys begin to shine with a little originality. Featuring Half Pint, this song seems to step out of the cookie-cutter style and by offering some interesting musical interpretation. Merging a little reggae with a catchy beat, ""Sunday Afternoon"" is imaginative, but radio-friendly enough to have mass appeal.
Near the end of the album, ""Ordinary"" stands out for its relevance to the feelings faced by many young adults. Again, the tune is easily accessible, but lyrics like ""Forty five minutes it'll all be gone / I'll be strapped to the tap like nothing's wrong but / Can't worry about tomorrow's pain tonight / These days, these nights are so ordinary"" make the song more meaningful than basic radio fluff.
is a good effort, and Lucky Boys Confusion has some potential. They may be more than just another lip-pierced boy band, but they are far from original. With more experience, they could define their style enough to create a niche in the pop-punk genre.