The Lemonheads - Album Retrospective
By: Yousif Nur
Hate Your Friends (1987)
The first album, the one that kicks everything off for Evan Dando's lot, long before they're to become teen pin-ups and collaborators with Belinda Carlisle and Kirsty MacColl. Don't think for a second though that this is a sign of things to come later on though. Musically (long-term at least), this is as far removed from what's released later on as it gets.
These are a bunch of snotty adolescent school kids trying to sound like Husker Du, REM and Black Flag. Well, it was the eighties after all. Though the band won't be remembered for their early punk rock leanings, there are some treats here like 'Rabbit', an interesting cover of 'Amazing Grace' and 'Fed Up'. Besides, who doesn't love Husker Du and Black Flag?
Creator (1988)
'Creator' next, and the second offering on the Taang! Label - here began the development of the pop sound that would later become celebrated amongst fans and press alike. The hardcore sound is still apparent, but when mixed with the hooks, it sounds bloody great. 'Die Right Now', 'Take Her Down' and 'Two Weeks In Another Town' still sound awesome to this day.
And yes, that isn't the first and certainly not the last cover song by any stretch of the imagination. In all honesty, only check out 'Hate Your Friends' and 'Creator' for little glances, although good in their own right, there are better albums. But hey, whatever floats your boat..
Lick (1988)
What would be the last LP the Lemonheads would produce for an indie label, it would also prove to be the one that would have signs of much punk-pop hook use and a mellower toned Dando. But at a cost - friction between band members for going in a more commercial direction in terms of sound.
Whether or not the Lemonheads wanted to go for an all-out punk-pop record is another matter, but 'Anyway' has a driving, hard-hitting drum sound that really packs a punch, and there's a lovely version of Suzanne Vega's 'Luka'.
Lovey (1990)
Their debut record for Atlantic and arriving two years before Nirvana paved the way for alternative rock to rule the world, it was here that Dando stumbled upon the 'true' sound of the band as it is today.
A melange of folk-rock, pop and grunge combined to create that sound. It was close to being 'the one' that would do it, but what was to come shortly afterward would loom large in their favour. Just because moving to a major label caused departures of founding members leaving the band, didn't mean it hurt the ethos or the Lemonheads one bit.
Cover version of choice this time is a rather sweet version of Gram Parsons 'Brass Buttons'. Now to the album we all know and love...
It's A Shame About Ray (1992)
The album to pick, their masterpiece and a slice of critically acclaimed grunge/pop/indie/Americana. It spawned a 'fluke' hit with the re-issued bonus track, 'Mrs Robinson'. Yes, a cover by Simon & Garfunkel and yes, it was also on Wayne's World.
That aside, one might know more about the Lemonheads than one might think. For instance, the video for 'It's A Shame About Ray' features Johnny Depp, there's the aforementioned Wayne's World feature and Evan became a teen heart throb almost overnight. Remember when Courtney Love was quoted to have had 'impure thoughts' about Dando when he was at Messrs. Cobain residences? Well, with that smooth, silky voice and hair, who wouldn't? Juliana Hatfield was also added to the band.
As for stand-out tracks, where do we begin? Every song is pure pop melodic genius. Everything from the opening 'Rockin' Stroll' to the closing 'Frank Mills' (or 'Mrs. Robinson' to those that own the re-issue). On a personal level, 'Confetti' (A little note to mention - track two on pretty much every Lemonheads album is a TREAT.) ,'It's A Shame About Ray', 'Alison's Starting To Happen' and 'Bit Part' are songs that ought to be sung twenty years from now. Timeless.
On top of the extra track being added to 'Ray' as mentioned above, 'My Drug Buddy' was re-named 'Buddy' at one point because of boring major label concern. In the end, they reverted back to the original title.
Come On Feel The Lemonheads (1993)
An album that should've confirmed, affirmed and damn well stamped their authoritative status as the biggest band in the world. But it just wasn't to be. Not as consistent and maybe not as much of a masterpiece as its predecessor 'Ray' was, but that could be down to the fact that a) there are fifteen tracks b) it's subsequently far longer and c) it lacks focus due to Dando's spiralling and descending drug addiction.
Regardless, there's some material which is the best the band had produced to date, including Rick James(!) on 'Rick James Style' as well as regular 'Style', highlighting his now obsessive drug habit, 'Don't wanna get stoned, but I don't wanna not get stoned'. We guarantee that the first time your ears prick up on 'It's About Time', 'Great Big No', 'Into Your Arms', 'Big Gay Heart', 'Down About It' and 'Rest Assured' the repeat button will fall apart. Seriously.
Rick James isn't the only guest featured on this album however; 'Come On..' also has former Germs member and later finding worldwide superstardom with hits such as 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth', Belinda Carlisle(!!) duets with Evan on 'I'll Do It Anyway'. Well when you've been in a band with Darby Crash, let's face it - that's all the experience you need with hooking up with junkies.
Car Button Cloth (1996)
Their ambiguous album. Well, if you can overlook how messy the record generally is, 'If I Could Talk I'd Tell You' and the country driven, originally written by Smudge cover of 'The Outdoor Type' (which has also since been covered by ex-Million Dead's Frank Turner) stand out like a sore thumb.
And what of the smoothness of Dando's voice? It shows wear and tear of the heroin, crack and alcohol abuse he encountered that's what. As a result, their fan base diminished, their mainstay at being front cover stars had come and gone, plus there wouldn't be another Lemonheads album for another ten years. Boo.
Regardless, when the chips are down, when the ninety minutes are up and various other clichés, 'Car Button Cloth' still provides some of the best tunes of that particular era.
Baby I'm Bored (2003)
A difficult one, this. And for the record, I'd like to categorically deny that the band on my new label Neat People nicked the namesake for their debut single. Just so that's clear. Not strictly a Lemonheads album per se, Evan Dando's first solo outing provided a lot of mixed opinion amongst purists, given his flaky nature. Yes, we know they released a 'Greatest Hits' album in 1998, but that doesn't count!
Anyhow Personally, I prefer to think of 'Baby I'm Bored' as the 'Australia album', reason being - he decamped there for a short while, Ben Lee collaborates, plus the songs. Most of them are country-driven ballads in a wilderness where there's nothing but desert. And I'll be damned if he spent most of the time near the coast.
'Waking Up' is complete with Ben Folds-esque piano and handclaps, which works quite nicely. Remember how I said earlier that track two on every Lemonheads/Dando release was ace? No exception here with 'My Idea'. 'Baby I'm Bored' doesn't have anything that's immediately catchy, but that's because it takes a few listens and even then, it's an acquired taste.
Artists in this article: The Lemonheads