The Luxury
This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
Self-Released
Available Now

A wall of layered guitars - overdriven, with wah-wah and other effects - marks the dramatic opening of This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things from Boston band The Luxury. This first track, "Let Go", provides ample demonstration of the band's prodigious technical facility and tantalizingly hints at their space rock tendencies. From there, the album kicks into another gear with the melodic "Seven Stories". Filled with sing-along melodies and punchy rhythms, this one is an obvious hit. The dichotomy here of dark lyrics - " the song will always end the same/when they're the wrong words and we sing them anyway" - with decidedly catchy melodies is a trademark of the entire album.

The standout "Rockets and Wrecking Balls" features an intimate piano intro coupled with closely mic'd, hushed vocals. It illustrates Jason Dunn's undeniable songwriting ability, as well as keyboardist Brooks Milgate's talents - his playing is effective without being overblown. Certain tracks that are conspicuously influenced by R.E.M. or Oasis, like "So Easy" and "Malcontent", while tuneful, are the least interesting offerings on this album. Likewise, "Ocean's Limerick" comes across as formulaic psuedo-Celtic prog, not illustrative of The Luxury's true strengths.

"Covered in Smiles", however, with its early Police -meets-Nirvana stylings and wailing guitar solo, points to an auspiscious direction for the band. Here again, trademark dark lyrics lke "I'm a one-trick-hypocrite" belie the hook-laden music. Another highlight is "Stillborn Symphony", with its lush chord progressions and interesting melodic turns. One could even imagine a convinging Ibiza-style remix of this track. Powerful guitars overcome the quietude here and lead seamlessly to the final track, "Commonplace", with its big, melodic chorus. Dunn's appealing vocals throughout, vaguely reminiscent of Abandoned Pools' Tommy Walters, or even a more mellifluous Roger Waters, are well-suited to the material. Impressively self-produced, This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things is a commanding first album from The Luxury. This is a band to watch.

- E Galand