Lydia Loveless (from the album Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way Again

Lydia Loveless (from the album Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way Again

Lydia Loveless (from the album Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way Again on Bloodshot Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Lydia Loveless is a decided insurgent, an artist unafraid to blur boundaries in their efforts to convey an irrepressible attitude (as well as being genderfluid and prefers being addressed as they/them – editor). Over the course of the past dozen years or so, they have released eight albums and EPs that effectively blur the boundaries between Punk, Pop, Country, and Honky Tonk, all for the purpose of expressing herself with nothing less than clarity and conviction.
 
That said, the tellingly-titled Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way is their most earnest yet introspective effort yet, one that focuses on delivering solid songs in a cohesive and coherent way. The agitated yet upbeat “Poor Boy”, the absolute insistence found in “Sex and Money”, and the driving and dynamic combo “Do the Right Thing” and “Toothache” offer the best examples of that emphatic approach. On the other hand, certain songs — the mellower “Runaway” and “Summerlong” in particular — also offer opportunity for reflection, even in the midst of shared chaos and uncertainty.
 
Even so, that restless muse is ever-present. ‘I’m tired of running around, trying to get famous’ Loveless insists on the aforementioned “Sex and Money”. ‘I should know who I am by now’.
 
Considering her usual assertive attitude, that confessionary tone seems somewhat surprising. Likewise, the steady stride of “French Restaurant”, a tattered and turbulent recap of a break-up date, finds no small hint of doubt and disappointment lingering just below the surface.
 
‘There’s no reason to be here on a Tuesday night
Tears well up by candlelight
Getting ready for another stupid fight
At least we’ll have an audience this time
Things haven’t been the same
Hard to really say who’s changed…’
 
Those feelings most people have felt at one time or another, especially those who have been impacted by the emotional aftershocks that follow in the wake of shattered romance. Yet, Loveless’ vulnerability is especially striking, and it’s to their credit that they reveal themselves in no uncertain terms. Their nude photo on the front cover and the defiant stance they take on their back offer immediate indications of the feelings they foster within.
 
Always the rebel and renegade, Lydia Loveless now finds cause to bare their sensitive side. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
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