Album Reviews

Released on January 24th, ‘Lucero Unplugged’ is a minimalist retrospective on the best work from Lucero, played simply and beautifully by the band’s lead singer Ben Nichols and keyboardist Rick Steff. The record is an hour and 15 minutes long, with 20 total tracks, and there’s not a skip on here.

Look, maybe I’m biased to love an alt country punk act playing a stripped-down, earnest take on their greatest songs. It is right up my alley. It’s equal parts Steve Earle, Springsteen, and Skynard, just on piano, acoustic, and minimally touched vocals. The record was reportedly laid down in a single day at a home studio, and that intimate small scale feel does wonders for this album: personal, focused, introspective, and wistful in the way the best country and punk can be.

What else can I say? The best album of the year so far, easy! A really moving set of songs that make you think about home and all the things you could do better, sure! Keys work that makes you wanna stamp your feet and holler, hell yea!

It’s a perfect record.

Lucero Unplugged track listing:

1. In Lonesome Times 
2. That Much Further West
3. When I Was Young 
4. Texas & Tennessee
5. The Prayer 
6. Diamond State Heartbreak 
7. Sweet Little Thing 
8. Slow Dancing 
9. Among The Ghosts 
10. Buy A Little Time 
11. When You Decided To Leave 
12. Tell Me What It Takes 
13. Hate & Jealousy 
14. Hello Sadness 
15. Darby’s Song 
16. It Gets The Worst At Night 
17. My Best Girl 
18. I Can’t Stand To Leave You 
19. Nights Like These 
20. Tears Don’t Matter Much