Courier-Journal reviews Vol. 9
Various, ‘Louisville Is for Lovers 2009: Lies/Loss’
Records like this make me wish I was new to Louisville music. I wonder what it would be like to stumble across something so beautifully confounding, where the exhilarating thunder of Black Kerouac is side by side with the subtle pop of Ben & Whit, the retro rock ‘n’ roll of The Ladybirds and the gorgeous psychological minefield of “The Girl in Me” by Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Cheyenne Mize.
What would total strangers take with them after hearing this? Envy? A music-induced schizophrenia? Five or six favorite new bands? All of the above?
This year’s edition of John King’s annual valentine to Louisville ranks among his best, with so many good songs that it doesn’t soak in until after several listens. Highlights include The Fervor, The Cut Family Foundation, The Mack, Whistle Peak and Sandpaper Dolls, while The Gallery Singers’ “All That’s Left” is the sound of utter devastation. —Jeffrey Lee Puckett
