Though highly unknown in the music world, Local H got it's start back in good old 1987. Originally started with Scott Lucas (guitar, vocals) Joe Daniels (drums) and Matty Garcia (Bass), the band has a pretty consistent run through the early nineties. That was untill Matt Garcia left the band right around that time. Since then Scott has been using a special pick-up on his guitar eliminating the need for a bassist. Scott and Joe continued on to put out three (the band's first) albums together, with this one being their second.
Manifest Destiny Pt. 1 - 3.75/5
A pretty calm and mellow intro. It shows the definite grunge influence over Scott (the lyrics/vocals say it all). It's pretty short and basic, but has a reletively good effect straight off.
High-Fiving MF - 4.5/5
This was the song that the band captured me with so many years ago (I believe I was about 8).Yes, at the time it was because 80% of this song's lyrics are swearing, but I've sinced learned that it actually has music that goes with it. It's a pretty angry and heavy song. Of course, it is the rage that drives this on nicely for almost 5 minutes. It's only the first track and I feel it's pretty enticing.
Bound for the Floor - 4.5/5
This is a single for the album. Whether or not it's the only one I can't actually say. This song is catchy as hell. Scott plays pretty much the same power chord over and over during the verse behind his vocals. The chorus flows nice and has few lyrics. It gets heavy in parts but for the most part it's pretty softish with the excpetion of the screaming at the end. Most likely a highlight.
Lovey Dovey - 3.75/5
Nothing to groundbreaking here. It's a pretty unique song but feels repetitive after a while. It's a nice combo of sounds which kept the rating from dropping any lower. I think he repeats the same lyrics throughout the whole song, but sounds pretty cool for stupid reasons anyway.
I Saw What You Did and I Know Who You Are - 5/5
Alright, if this album had come out maybe 3 years earlier, this song alone would've put Local H at the top of the grunge movement. This one is straight grunge all the way trough. It could easily be confused with something from '91 or '92 had it not been for the vocals. Scott's voice is no Cobain if you catch my drift :naughty:, but not every band can be another Nirvana ripoff can they? About halfway through the riffs start sounding very Alice in Chains-ish making this song pretty heavy and angst-ridden. A definite highlight.
No Problem - 4/5
Acoustic? What the hell? :confused: Oh well...it sounds pretty good. At first it sounds like a musical joke - would Scott seriously do anything like this? The answer - yes. Yes he would. I gets pretty emotional at times and is pretty linear for the whole 4:15 (roughly). A pretty solid song despite the immediate turnoffs one may experience from the start.
Nothing Special - 5/5
This is some heavy ****. The repeated lyrics "what's wrong with me?" seem to define the song and give it that long-lost rageful teen feel. Obviously by the rating you can tell it's a highlight - this is mostly due to the badass riffs in the background. Never underestimate the power of the classic improvised solo either.
Eddie Vedder - 4.75/5
Something about this song really gets me in just the right spot. It seems to combine sounds from the likes of Smashing Pumpkins and some other soft early nineties band. It's pretty light and seems to display a soft emotion despite the heavy distorted power chords in the background. I'de say it's a reletively good insight into how poewrful Scott Lucas can write.
Back In the Day - 4/5
This song is the complete opposite of Eddie Vedder. While the last song was lightly sung with distorted power chords, this one is shouted with
really power chords. Obviously you've deduced that it focuses more on heaviness than anything. A good fling if you're looking for some shameless energetic rock.
Freeze Dried (F) Lies - 4/5
This song is very reminiscent of Come as You Are. It's got just as dark an atmosphere. I think the whole thing is plam-muted, so it's heavy but retains a restrained feeling of lowness...dare I say, evil? :D But anyhoo...It's another basic song with nothing really stabd out-ish about it but does sound good right from the get-go.
Fritz's Corner - 5/5
Even heavier than Back in the Day. This one definitely has more of a defined melody. It's got the raw energy with pretty heavy shouting (not quite screaming). All this coupled with a chaotic, randomly destructive (you heard me ;) ). Another highlight, just listening to the song tells that it speaks for itself. Much needed as the album draws to a close.
O.K. - 3.75/5
Well, I think the title defines the entire song. It really is OK, nothing more, nothing less. It's pretty freakin soft, and at **** near 7 minutes, provides the lightest note on the album. Another insanely fast transition from the last angry track, there's nothing seriously wrong with this one - just doesn't appeal to me personally.
Manifest Destiny Pt. 2 - 4/5
This one may be 4 minutes longer ( :confused: the first only 50 seconds?) but it's also packed with about 10x the heaviness of the first part. It proves an all too approriate close to a record such as this. It's low on lyrics but the instrumentals make an even deeper impression than Scott's voice could've. It almost makes me feel sad (**** those emotional guitar solos) about something...I'de rather not say what. But at any rate, this song sticks.
Conc...
I think these guys deserve a lot more credit than what they've gotton in the past. This is most likely due to the grunge movement fading out, as well as the fact that these guys were from Illinoise and not Seattle/Washington. But either way, this is one of their best albums. It's pretty solid and consistent, and if one were to purchase any CD from Local H, make this be the one.
Recommended tracks:
I Saw What You Did and I Know Who You Are
Nothing Special
Eddie Vedder
Fritz's Corner
Final Rating - 4.5/5
I don't expect more than 5 posts in this thing in any length of time, but read and comment if you feel the need. :thumb:
