the lucksmiths

The Lucksmiths: Staring At The Sky [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
October 18, 2009October 19, 2009

It was mid August, 1999 and my parents pulled into the small college town of Pullman, Washington. They left me standing at the side of the road as I waved goodbye. Thousands of miles away in Paris, The Lucksmiths were recording an EP. Years later, the music they defined themselves by would become the pleasant music of my dreams. The EP was Staring At The Sky, a well crafted pop album that comes to us from a group of Australians whose mastery of song brings pleasant twists and turns, accented harmonies, and a variety of instruments true to the genre of twee. The Lucksmiths are true masters at songcraft, each one presenting a new aspect of common life like a nostalgic existential poem. Read More »The Lucksmiths: Staring At The Sky [Album Review]

The Lucksmiths: Spring A Leak [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
July 5, 2009July 5, 2009

The Lucksmithsâ€™ recently hit the states on a rare tour for the Australian quartet in support of their latest album, Spring A Leak: A Collection Of B-Sides, Covers, Rarities, And Other Treasures Of The Deep. With select exclusive material, the album does take several vinyl-only tracks and gives them a digital edge. Itâ€™s the unreleased live versions and hard to find b-sides that make Spring A Leak a joy. Read More »The Lucksmiths: Spring A Leak [Album Review]

The Guild League: Mouse Vs. Mountain [Video]

Andy Fenstermaker
March 5, 2009April 11, 2009

I cannot decide which item I’m more excited about, the free mp3 of “Dead Hour” or the video of “Mouse Vs. Mountain” by The Guild League. This band has been around a while and hints strongly of The Lucksmiths (thanks to their indie-pop nature, Australian home, and the frontman being none other than Tali White), and their following even includes… President Obama? Read More »The Guild League: Mouse Vs. Mountain [Video]

Best of 2008: Fense’s Top 33 & 1/3 Albums of the Year

Andy Fenstermaker
December 23, 2008May 18, 2023

The year is over. We have a new president about to take office, a failing economy, and out of control weather. The good news is that last year saw some amazing albums hit and, thanks to the rampant oppression of hard times, next year should prove just as fruitful music-wise. After all, difficult times, depression, etc. can often breed above average achievements in the arts… right?

So here it is, my top 33 and 1/3 albums of the year and the last post of 2008. The 33 is for the top 33 albums (with a few EPs included) of the year, while the 1/3 is an honorable mention 7″ single. We’ll begin with the latter…

Andy Fenstermaker
December 12, 2008July 5, 2009

This material, though new, is not really new. There are so many parallels between First Frost and the earlier work of The Lucksmiths (MySpace), that it virtually dwarfs any element that could be considered a fresh direction from Australia’s pop darlings. And that is what makes First Frost both extremely comforting and a damn great album. Read More »The Lucksmiths: First Frost [Album Review]