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A truckload of emotions—like confusion, hurt, jealousy, and denial—spill over after the end of a long-term relationship. Chicago-based rock group, Local H (comprised of Scott Lucas on guitar, piano, synthesizer, and vocals and Brian St. Clair on drums), articulate these feelings as each month passes by following such a break-up in their latest CD, Twelve Angry Months.
Frustration and pain, followed by accusations, smack listeners right from the album’s start. January’s cut, “The One with ‘Kid,’” refers to the all-too-common custody battle: Who gets the friends we made together? Powerful guitar and bass lines complement the jarring lyrics: “Could you do me a favor? / Fall off the earth / and I’ll see you later.”
This mood continues in February, but the rhythm and vocals throw us back to classic rock roots with “Michelle (Again).” No, not the “Michelle” from The Beatles’ Rubber Soul album; the song has more of a sarcastic resemblance to Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Jet,” spiked with heavy doses of Nirvana. This style carries into March, as the girl falls for the “BMW Man.”
Though many of the riffs may sound familiar, this collection is refreshingly original. July brings us to the energetic single, “24 Hour Break-Up Session,” followed by the same burning intensity in August’s “Jesus Christ! Did You See the Size of That Sperm Whale?”
The album only slows down a few times, with some of the songs starting out acoustically; but then the hurt speeds up and converts right back into heated anger. And December may slow down in tempo but not in passion as the band continues to analyze the whole painful mess in the album’s final track, “Hand to Mouth.”
I hope that Local H can get over this woman. Then again…not really. Rage often translates to intense, invigorating music, and that’s definitely the case with Twelve Angry Months. I hate to revel in someone’s misery, but these guys are just too fiery to stop here. Maybe the next album can be entitled Revenge. After all, after a painful break-up, we’ve all craved it.
