By Stan Cierlitsky
This has to be the most surreal feeling I've ever had. Almost 40 years after hearing "Why Does the Rain" and "Up the Hill and Down the Slope" on the Creation Records compilation Creation: Flowers In The Sky 1984 - 1987, I am here to review the debut album by The Loft. Everything Changes Everything Stays the Same features all four original members of the band and, yes, this is tecnically the seminal group's debut full-length record.
Creation: Flowers In The Sky 1984 - 1987 was the third CD I ever bought, and it was probably the most influential compilation that shaped my taste in music for life. Primal Scream's "Velocity Girl", The Pastels' "Million Tears", Felt's "Ballad of the Band", The House of Love's "Shine On", and my buddy Phil Wilson's "Ten Miles" are just some of the greats that sit alongside the two brilliant songs on there from The Loft. In fact, a couple years ago Glenn and I had the opportunity to interview Pete Astor (guitar/vocals) and I got to personally tell him how much "Why Does the Rain" has meant to me over my life.
Okay, enough reminiscing, as it's time to get to this new music. Everything Changes Everything Stays the Same" is probably exactly what you were expecting. It was for me. The first single released off the album was "Dr. Clarke", and from the opening guitar lick, to the grooves, to the Pete's voice, I instantly felt transported back 37 years ago when I first heard The Loft. It's always surprising to me that no matter how old folks get, their singing voices largely stay the same.
As much as I liked that track, my fave has to be the opener and second single "Feel Good Now" as it's another upbeat song where the lyrics just speak to me. To me, this is one of the great drinking songs ever recorded. It sits right up there next to The Jazz Butcher's "D.R.I.N.K." "So pour it out / drink it down / I don't want to feel good tomorrow / I want to feel good now." Yup, I get it. I really love how this album neatly encapsulates what people would want in a The Loft album. It has the upbeat songs which are like "Up the Hill and Down the Slope", but it also has some beautiful slower songs which are like "Why Does the Rain".
"Greensward Days" is one of those beautiful slower songs. With very nostalgic lyrics, this is a highlight here. Now that spring might be around the corner I can definitely see this popping up on my hiking playlist. In fact, there is a lot pf reminiscing and nostalgia throughout the album. I guess you can expect that from folks our age. "Ten Years" takes that bull by the horn. "Things are getting complicated and I still don't know who to be" go the lyrics, and, again, I get it.
Even though this album sounds like The Loft, the 30 years spent perfecting your music and gaining new influences is going to make a difference. For example, I get really strong Fleetwood Mac vibes on "Storytime". It also seems like they are conscientious about making songs that would be fun to see live. Numbers like "Do the Shut Up" and "The Elephant" seem to fit that bill.
There are also compositions that sound kind of new. Another of my favorites on the album is the closer "This Machine". I've been listening to Pete Astor for almost 40 years, and I have heard him across the spectrum of experimenting (see Ellis Island Sound and The Wisdom of Harry). "This Machine" doesn't go that far, but the glorious chorus is something we just don't get enough of. "I know the world is wrong, and this machine is on" go the lyrics. And the selection's ending definitely has a Pink Floyd vibe about it.
Bravo boys! It took almost 40 years to finally hear your debut, but it was definitely worth the wait!
Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same by The Loft is out now via Tapete.
[Photo: Joe Shutter]