In Stores Now: A Coming of Age by Lucky Soul

Pro-temperence sketch titled "The Gin Juggarnath" by George Cruikshank from My Sketch Book, number VII, 1835

I first took a look at London retro-pop combo Lucky Soul a year ago when I was tasked by my special ladyfriend to find another group "that sounds like the Pipettes". The band's 2007 album The Great Unwanted seemed to fit the bill, being a slightly more sophisticated take on British-style girl-group pop and northern soul. I ended up taking to the record more than she did, so I was excited to see earlier this year that Lucky Soul was releasing a second record, A Coming of Age. Like a lot of smaller UK bands, it looks like Lucky Soul has decided against a big US release of their album, as it's easily available through online stores or as a download. I finally just ordered a copy of the CD directly from the band's site (it wasn't that expensive, even with trans-Altantic shipping!)

A Coming of Age was made under different circumstances than the band's debut. Sometime between the release dates of the two records, singer Ali Howard and guitarist/songwriter Andrew Laidlaw became a couple, which obviously affected the band's dynamic. Lucky Soul worked in seven different studios while making the record, including sessions with the Stockholm Strings and the Killer Horns. The recording process was reportedly torturous at times, with Laidlaw admitting that he was getting a little "Brian Wilson" at times. The results were worth the effort, in my opinion, as A Coming of Age is a smart and immaculate pop record, showcasing a variety of retro-pop sounds delivered with the fresh energy of Ali Howard's coy, girlish vocals. I was also surprised at the maturity and wit in the lyrics - many of the recent girl-group-revival groups haven't been able to match the fun wordplay of the sound's originators, but Lucky Soul nails it.

A Coming of Age begins with two breathless singles with repetitive choruses, upbeat tempos, and peppy handclaps - back to back, "Whoa Billy!" and "White Russian Doll" are almost too much to swallow. After this initial salvo, though, the album hits a better rhythm, with songs like "Love³" and "Our Heart", which have a lighter pop touch and room to breathe. I was let down a little by the album's ballads at first - in comparison with the northern soul ravers, songs like the tepid "Warm Water" seem slight at first, but they sound better and better on repeated listens. The highlight of the album, though, may the title track. With its spy-guitar riff and references to a "coming of age, come too late", it confronts the problem of the difficult second album head on by throwing the band's growing pains right into the spotlight.

Not surprisingly, A Coming of Age hasn't gotten a lot of press stateside, but it's worth seeking out if a British resurrection of the Holland-Dozier-Holland style sounds appealing.

"A Coming of Age" by Lucky Soul