Lucius
After an extremely groovy detour with 2022’s disco-leaning *Second Nature*, Brooklyn indie-pop group Lucius’ self-titled fifth album—their first for the storied record label Fantasy—finds the quartet returning to the pastoral folk-rock sounds that marked their 2018 compilation *Nudes* as well as their recent countrified collaborations with folks like Brandy Clark, The Killers, and Brandi Carlile. The snappy “Gold Rush” is laden with deep-fried guitar licks and swaggering vocals from Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, while Grammy-nominated West Coast folkie Madison Cunningham throws in on the toe-tapping ray of sunshine that is “Impressions.” As Lucius have become pop’s most able collaborators, Lucius similarly casts a big tent of contributors: indie-rockers like Luke Temple and Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith lend a hand with instrumentation, while prior collaborator Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs lends his guitar heroics to the pulse of “Old Tape.” The record is at once a return to what Lucius have done best for the last 15 years and a reflection of their always-surprising journey into new sonic territory.
Lucius by Lucius album review by Greg Walker for Northern Transmissions. The LP is now available via Mom+Pop Music and DSPs