 "Underrated" | 2007-02-28 |
| - Reviewed By rguilbault |
| This is a really solid collection of songs. I know some people do not like the album, because it doesn't have many up-tempo selections like the debut self-titled album, but I think this album has a nice combination of melody and raw rock music. |
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| "darker, but still worth a listen" | 2006-07-13 |
| - Reviewed By pibsts |
Taken for garbage as grunge was pretty much dead by the time this ablum comes out, Lucy still provided memorable tracks and noteworthy lyrics. Kevin Martin and company dig deeper for a more definative sound in their followup to major success self-titled debute 2 years prior to this release. Lucy trys capturing a more theme sound of darker, more pungent rawness to each song.
To begin, the single "Simple Lessons," a considerably short song flames w/ a great guitar line, and furious fit of rage w/in Kevin's voice playing an earful of rock rage throughout the chorus.
With "Drowned", a sense of depression type mood sets over for any down to earth emotional song. It's really a beautiful song if you just give it a shot and really listen to the lyrics. The words are open enough for anyone one really to relate to them.
The title track has somewhat of a rythmic trance which resonates throughout the song. The vocals are rather soft, but I feel like it is similar to "He Calls Home" with a much more darker atmosphere lingering upon the guitars.
"Best Friends" is a little off page to the albums general feel. This song is a little more poppier, and less moodier. If you like the song "Can't Give In" off the Airheads ST, then ya might like this song.
The album peaks with "Become (To Tell)" and "Understanding." Both are remarkably dark but less forceful than anything on the self-titled album. "Become" is a little uptempo w/ a great beat, but "Understanding" is what I consider the little brother of "Change." It has the soft lead up to a strong rage. Instead of being 'written down' Martin wants to 'raise it on my own'. "Understanding" may sound like "Change" but the lyrics are very different in meaning.
I'll go ahead and give "Crooked Halo" and "Bothered" the titles of fillers. I don't mind listening to them at any time, but I just could never really get into either song. Thus the reason why only 4 stars.
"Butterfly" and "Butterfly (Reprise)" are esentially one huge song obviously, but we get "It's Amazing" and "Vulgar Before Me" in between. The last 4 songs here are all great with my fav being VBM out of the 4. All correlate the whole 'dark aura' feel as w/ the rest of the album. Each are somewhat less rock, and more deeper w/ introduction to what we will eventually get on Happy Pills.
All in all, Lucy is no slouch except for a few songs. It's somewhat more of a transitional album than a hits album, and more themed. Lucy was never really judged fairly, and although more of a sway away from grunge and more into the post-grunge area a la Bush, Our Lady Peace, Better Than Ezra, Everclear, and Foo Fighters major debuts that came out about at the same time. |
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 "1995 was just an odd year for music" | 2006-01-18 |
| - Reviewed By the_sink |
At a time when grunge was certainly in decline, and hard rock/heavy metal acts like Korn, Pantera, etc, were growing in popularity, Candlebox was unfairly neglected by radio, music lovers, and MTV. Despite the hugely successful self titled release two years prior, lucy was discarded by everybody as soon as it was released. And it was their finest work.
Many people complain that Candlebox didn't have a "defined" sound, which was perfectly reflected in lucy. I disagree with those people who see a dramatic shift between the band's first and second albums, but I suppose that is mainly subjective. Lyrically, lucy is simple; Kevin Martin chooses rhyming over substance in many songs, which is fine for the time period when everything was so serious and bleak. I don't see the overall bleakness of lucy like others, although uplifting is not a word one would use for the album or the band itself.
Musically, lucy is defined by the standouts: Simple Lessons, Understanding, and Butterfly (Reprise). Not the radio friendly music the self titled release contained, musically lucy is more "in your face" and raw. Combined with Martin's emotional yet simple lyrics, lucy is a powerful album. Unfortunately the emotion and power was lost on a generation of confused music listeners and has fallen into oblivion. But this is definitely an album worth buying if you're a fan of the first Candlebox album, Our Lady Peace, or Seven Mary Three. |
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 "Tough Call" | 2005-06-23 |
| - Reviewed By seanwagle |
I won't agree with the reviews that call this "bad music" -- however, it is very sullen and wistful. It doesn't convey a mood you want to put yourself in very often, and I think that's part of why this album seems less popular than thier others, and the singles from it have faded from radio airplay.
I think tracks #5 "Become (To Tell)" and #8 "Bothered" to me are the standouts. Crunchy, locomotive hard rock, with heavy 1970s-style distortion that you just don't hear musicians attempt much anymore. Get that air guitar out when you play these!
But overall, it's an album for fans that want to spend time investigating Candlebox... It takes effort to like this CD. |
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| "Their best album" | 2005-05-05 |
| - Reviewed By nightslyr |
Lucy was, quite simply, Candlebox's best effort. While the band was never able to capture a signature sound, the various mixtures they created on here were pretty enjoyable.
Lyrically and vocally, this was Kevin Martin's best album. While "Vulgar Before Me" and "Best Friend" (which I'm assuming is something of a joke song written for his dog) are somewhat weak, the rest of the album shows Martin at the pinnicle of his ability with Candlebox. While he's no Maynard James Keenan lyrically, he's far better than the uninspired, high school angst poetry filling the airwaves today. Vocally, he sounds like a combination of Chris Robinson and Vince Neil but in a way that actually sounds good.
The guitar work of Peter Klett is a bit of a mixed bag in this one. On the one hand, his overall melodic and harmonic structures are better than those in the self-titled album, but his solos aren't as strong. Ultimately, though, it seems as if his shift in priorities tightened up the majority of the songs.
Bardi Martin's playing got a bit better with this one, but Scott Mercado is still barely adequate.
For the album itself, "Simple Lessons" is a better beginning than "Don't You" was, but I feel it's a bit overrated. "Drowning" and "Lucy" both show off the band's ability to make sound straight ahead rock songs. "Best Friend" is a hell of a tribute to man's best friend. My favorite song on the album would have to be "Become (To Tell)." It is as about as close to pure grunge as Candlebox ever ventured. It's very well done. Finally, "Butterfly" and its reprise seem to be Candlebox's "Silent Lucidity." Compared to everything else they've done, those two songs are epic in scope and showcase the band's more artistic side.
While this album won't blow you away, it is a good effort by a band whose sound is rooted more in the 70's and 80's than in the grunge scene of the 90's. I recommend it. |
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| "Better than its reputation" | 2004-08-25 |
| - Reviewed By floydrulz |
| I've never understood some of (mostly negative) things said about this album. The production is thicker on Lucy than on Candlebox. They move away from the sparse, bluesy sound and move more toward the mainstream, which isn't a bad thing in and of itself. It's certainly more ambitious, and if the band failed on some forgettable tunes like Best Friend, they were right on the money with standout tracks like Lucy, Understanding, Simple Lessons, and Become. As a whole it's not a slam dunk, but this album is worth a listen for the standout songs and for the fantastic guitar work of Peter Klett. |
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| "Different yet just as good" | 2004-07-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2VXZ9OEK6TZO0 |
Candlebox's second album has gotten many bad reviews and criticism over the years. This is because it doesn't sound just like the first. I for one, think this is a great thing. Lucy is raw, underproduced, and fairly powerful. And I mean underproduced in a good way, cause it's done quite well here. So if you're looking for a repeat of their first album, this ain't it.
The good stuff here- Butterfly (Reprise) is the best song in my opinion. It's an epic song which goes from soft to extremely loud, a very well written song, with great vocals and lyrics by Kevin Martin. The solo here is quite good also. Understanding, Drowned, Vulgar Before Me, and Bothered are all great as well. This album is much more experimental than the first, and comes closer to a truer "grunge" sound. Everything sounds much rawer here, from the distortion in the guitars to Kevin's voice. The musicianship isn't as refined as on the first album, but I think it adds to the value of this one in the overall scheme of things.
The bad stuff- Not much is bad. I didn't really get into Best Friend too much, but the whole album is listenable. Not every song is memorable here though.
Conclusions- Had this been their first album, and the self-titled been their second, I think this would've sold/been rated a lot better. "Lucy" sounds more like a debut album than anything else. But for what it is, it's great. If you liked the first album and aren't afraid of change, pick this one up. And if you're a Candlebox fan and don't already own it, get it. 10/10. |
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| "What A Huge Step In The Wrong Direction!!!" | 2003-03-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: AJYTE0ANW703D |
| ... I have the first Candlebox album and I absolutely love it. It has 6 great songs ... This album has one good song (Simple Lessons) that reminds me of the first album. The rest of the songs are just noise to me. It's absolutely nothing like the their debut. I have over 3,000 cd's and I have to rate this one within the top 10 worst albums I ever bought. The first is in my top 100. There's a reason this band broke up! They failed to catch that original magic! |
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| "Almost As Good As The Debut" | 2002-10-24 |
| - Reviewed By orangeduke |
| This album nearly spelled the end of this 90s style metal outfit, though it's hard to see why. They still make hooky, radio friendly hard rock in the style of Alice In Chains or Soundgarden, and there is no real change in style or tone from their well respected debut. Maybe the label just printed too many copies or maybe their day had passed, rap metal a seems to have sucked up all the teenage rebellion boys not worshiping Snoop Doggy Dog Dog Dog. Fans will not be disappointed. All the tracks are fine, I especially liked 'Simple Lessons' 'Become (To Tell) and 'Drowned'. |
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| "I like all three Candlebox albums" | 2001-07-12 |
| - Reviewed By love_william |
| The third album was a little weaker, but I like it and it's growing on me. As far as Lucy, I was letdown at first cause it didn't rock like the first, but now songs like Butterfly amaze and touch me. If you like either of the other two albums, you MUST get this one and give it a few listens, perhaps in the background. It will grow on you. (Or maybe you'll dig it right from the start, some people do). |
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