Second Nature

Lucius co-founders Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig are used to adapting to change. That\'s partly born of necessity: In recent years, Laessig had her first child, while Wolfe and Lucius multi-instrumentalist Dan Molad divorced. But as in-demand backing vocalists for disparate acts such as Roger Waters, Harry Styles, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Sheryl Crow, the Los Angeles-based pair have tackled eclectic styles, alternating between tender folk, honey-rich soul, and rock belting. All of these experiences influence *Second Nature*, the first Lucius studio album since 2016\'s *Good Grief*. The collection touches on numerous genres: shimmering \'80s pop (\"LSD\"), dance-floor-ready disco (\"Next to Normal\"), and soulful folk (\"The Man I\'ll Never Find\"). Crow even returns the backing-vocalist favor, appearing alongside album co-producer Brandi Carlile on the funky \"Dance Around It,\" a song about pushing through when love starts crumbling. That track in particular illustrates the contrast at the heart of *Second Nature*: Despite the upbeat music, the lyrics often reflect on life\'s turmoil. But while *Second Nature* acknowledges that change isn\'t always easy, the record also proves it need not be a drag.

Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe are skilled harmonists and sought-after collaborators. Their latest album searches for its own identity in the neon haze of the dancefloor.

Not counting Nudes, a 2018 set of covers and acoustic reworkings, Second Nature represents the first studio album from Lucius in an eventful six years.

The stars seem to be in alignment for Lucius. It’s currently a real purple patch for Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, the duo originally from Brooklyn, now more at home in Nashville.

Lucius 'Second Nature' Album review by Stephan Boissonneault. The duo's full length arrives on March 8, 2022 via Mom+Pop/Dine Alone Records