The Lemonheads (album)
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| The Lemonheads | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 26, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | Blasting Room, Fort Collins, Colorado | |||
| Genre | Punk rock[1] | |||
| Label | Vagrant | |||
| Producer | Bill Stevenson, Evan Dando | |||
| The Lemonheads chronology | ||||
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The Lemonheads is the eighth studio album by alternative rock band the Lemonheads and the first after their return from a nine-year hiatus. Bandleader Evan Dando created the album with Descendents rhythm section Karl Alvarez on bass and Bill Stevenson on drums.
On April 26, 2006, it was announced that the Lemonheads had signed to Vagrant Records. The group's new lineup consisted of original member Evan Dando and Descendents/All bassist Karl Alvarez and drummer Bill Stevenson. It was also revealed that the band was working on an album due for release later in the year.[2]
The Lemonheads features contributions from Josh Lattanzi on bass, the Band's Garth Hudson on keyboards, and Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis on lead guitar. "Steve's Boy" is dedicated to William A. Stevenson, Bill Stevenson's father.
Release
On July 6, 2006, The Lemonheads was announced for release, and the track listing was revealed;[3] later that month, the band played a few shows in the UK.[4] On August 22, 2006, "No Backbone" was posted online.[5] The Lemonheads was made available for streaming on September 25, 2006, and was released a day later.[3][6] In November and December 2006, the band went on a tour of the U.S.[7] In January and February 2007, they toured the US again; they then embarked on a tour of New Zealand and Australia in March and April 2007.[8] In July 2007, the band toured the US East Coast with support from the Icarus Line.[9]
A limited-edition yellow vinyl version of the album was released in 2008, with signed copies made available via the Lemonheads' website.
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 70/100[10] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| The Guardian | [12] |
| Pitchfork | 6.8/10[13] |
| Rolling Stone |  [1] |
| Slant | [14] |
| Spin | [15] |
On review aggregator Metacritic the album holds a score of 70/100, based on 23 reviews, indicating a "generally favorable" reception.[10]
Jimmy Newlin of Slant reviewed the album very positively, calling it "nearly as great as the band’s masterpiece, It's a Shame About Ray, and far more dependable than the runner-up Come on Feel the Lemonheads."[14] Jon Young of Spin wrote that "Dando chooses maximum accessibility, offering agreeably chunky guitar pop."[15] Maddy Costa of the Guardian was more critical, writing "there's a broken feeling about this album, a resignation that reflects the trouble of the intervening years."[12]
Track listing
All songs by Evan Dando unless otherwise stated.
- "Black Gown" - 2:04
- "Become the Enemy" (Bill Stevenson) - 3:54
- "Pittsburgh" - 2:55
- "Let's Just Laugh" (Dando, Stevenson) - 4:44
- "Poughkeepsie" - 2:10
- "Rule of Three" - 2:19
- "No Backbone" (Tom Morgan) - 3:07
- "Baby's Home" (Morgan; intro by Dando) - 3:31
- "In Passing" - 2:50
- "Steve's Boy" (Stevenson) - 2:44
- "December" - 4:22
