Uncle Lucius (from the album Like It’s the Last One Left

Uncle Lucius (from the album Like It’s the Last One Left

Uncle Lucius (from the album Like It’s the Last One Left available on Boo Clap Records/Thirty Tigers) (by Brian Rock)
After an eight-year hiatus, Uncle Lucius returns with their fifth album Like It’s The Last One Left. Less gritty than 2012’s And You Are Me and less ebullient than 2015’s masterpiece, The Light, the new release Like It’s the Last One Left has elements of both. The album’s title implies a desperate grasping for something before it’s gone. But instead of material possessions, they encourage us to strive for peace of mind. Despite of the uncertainty that surrounds us, Uncle Lucius exudes an air of calm self-awareness. Fusing Cosmic Cowboy, Outlaw Country, Folk, and Jam Band musical styles, they invite anyone willing to listen to join them. And as always, lead singer Kevin Galloway’s voice adds the gravitas of an Old Testament prophet to their message of peace.
“Keep Singing Along” leads off the album with trippy, Cosmic Cowboy vibes as Galloway sings ‘nights drag on when you’re the only one who seems to sing along’. At first, it seems as though he is wallowing in self-pity. But he quickly continues with ‘that’s OK. I keep singing along anyway’. Cheerful lead guitar and spritely piano notes pop like confetti against the ethereal electric organ background. Celebrating his newfound freedom from conformity, Galloway sings, ‘I’ve been hiding from myself in between these faded lines. I’ve been trying to be somebody else; wasting all these precious rhymes’. Embracing the solitude that sometimes accompanies freedom, he is at peace.
That’s not to say the band is oblivious to the world they live in. “Civilized Anxiety” gives an unflinching look at the ‘concrete, cannibal coffin’ in which most people live, in heavy Texas Blues tones. The rousing call and response chorus serves as a wakeup call for everyone sleepwalking through life. “All The Angelenos” is a lively Honky-Tonk two stepper that laments the sudden influx of Californians to the band’s hometown of Austin. “Holy Roller” is a driving Rock song that points out the hypocrisy of those who believe religion can be bought and sold. Pointing out the flaws in both Woke political theories and traditional religious dogma, Uncle Lucius is that rarest of breeds: a centrist. Even more frightening for those who seek to control the masses, the band thinks for itself. It’s that ability to tune out the daily propaganda and think for themselves that leads to the message of peace that permeates this album. To put it another way, you’ll never find yourself by following everyone else.
“I’m Happy” encapsulates their view. Tex-Mex accordion hums along as Galloway sings ‘I’m happy just letting things be the way that they’re gonna be. Don’t worry myself about nobody else, don’t worry myself about me’. He doesn’t feel the need to police anyone else’s actions or beliefs. He also has faith in a higher power to guide his steps. Those two simple attitudes can lead to a wealth of joy. “Tuscaloosa Rain” incorporates a classical style string section to celebrate the simple every day moments before they pass us by. “Love In Kind” is a Folk-Rock exploration of the transformative power of love. “Trace My Soul” is a Hammond organ infused Rocker that advises us to let our souls ‘sing the song it’s gonna sing’ but to not take ourselves too seriously on our journey. “Heart Over Mind” revisits the Cosmic Cowoy tones of the album opener. Reiterating his message, Galloway sings ‘a world full of chaos, it’s so easy to get lost upon the way. Don’t be afraid to take a break, step back from all the noise and find some peace. Remember to breathe’. The return of the string section adds a ‘heavenly choir’ feel as the band invites us to experience the harmony that comes from loving each other instead of judging each other. Amen to that!  (by Brian Rock)
 
Listen and buy the music of Uncle Lucius from AMAZON
 
For more information, please visit the Uncle Lucius website