Sophomore Release Bubblegum Lemonade Artist

{|Bubblegum Lemonade|} is the brainchild of Scottish pop obsessive {|Laz McCluskey|}, who handles nearly all the instrumental and vocal chores himself, and on his first full-length album, 2008's {|Doubleplusgood|}, {|McCluskey|} wore his indie pop in... Read more

{|Bubblegum Lemonade|} is the brainchild of Scottish pop obsessive {|Laz McCluskey|}, who handles nearly all the instrumental and vocal chores himself, and on his first full-length album, 2008's {|Doubleplusgood|}, {|McCluskey|} wore his indie pop influences on his sleeve for all to see and hear. On the second {|Bubblegum Lemonade|} album, cleverly titled {|Sophomore Release|}, {|McCluskey|} again wears his indie pop influences on his sleeve for all to see and hear; considering that the vast majority of his inspiration comes from acts at least 25 years old, expecting any striking changes in his approach would probably be foolish, and ultimately, {|Sophomore Release|} is another variation on the same themes {|McCluskey|} has offered us before. However, if {|Bubblegum Lemonade|} haven't changed much this time out, {|Sophomore Release|} is recognizably more accomplished and confident than the debut; {|McCluskey|}'s wall of jangly guitars is more solid and his technique more precise, the percussion is more assured, the harmonies (which include vocals from {|Sandra|} of {|Strawberry Whiplash|}, one of {|McCluskey|}'s other projects) blend better and add a gentle sweetness, and the songs hit their targets with greater accuracy. {|Bubblegum Lemonade|}'s world begins with {|the Byrds|} and the invention of jangly folk-rock in the '60s and ends as the C-86 bands were fading out later in the '90s, but {|McCluskey|}'s continued study of this body of work (and continued application of what he's learned) yields results that will please anyone who thrives on classic indie pop. Someone once said that {|AC/DC|} keep making the same album over and over, but since it's a great album, why quibble? It's not hard to see something similar happening with {|Bubblegum Lemonade|}. {|McCluskey|}'s objects of fascination and his interpretation of their magic has been thoroughly consistent so far, but the results are two albums filled with fine songs played with intelligence and enthusiasm. So as long as the {|Bubblegum|} isn't broken, {|McCluskey|} need not fret about fixing it. ~ Mark Deming Less