Lap of "The Luxury"
By JoeG on March 10, 2010 6:50 PM



One of my favorite Albums from the 80's was the debut release by Tears for Fears called "The Hurting" the brit pop duo combined both the upbeat tempo and electronic sound of the period with smart, honest, and introspective lyrics. From track 1 to track 10 and all the songs in between they shared a common thread and told a story. It was a concept album.

My Audio Floss predecessor during a radio interview on WMBR last July called the concept album "a lost art" and I can't agree more. About a week ago I got my hands on a CD called "In The Wake of What Won't Change" by the Boston based band The Luxury. Although in the form of a compact disc, this one can clearly be called an album! Call it clever packaging or a smart marketing idea; either way, I like it! On the back of the CD case the first 6 tracks are listed under the heading Side 1 and to the right, the remaining 7 tracks appear under the heading of Side 2. a rather interesting concept.

Both sides of the Album have intros and finales and referring back to one of my favorites, the latest CD from The Luxury possess many of those same qualities and more. Oddly reminiscent of that brit pop electric sound with a harder edge for the modern day along with those passionate inward looking and self affirming lyrics we all can to identify with again and again. "Take it Back" and "The Mirror Fogs" are the obvious Side 1 stand outs.

Side 2 opens with the brief abandonment of a techno sound for a more classic horn section and a faster paced rock 'n roll style; Straitjacket and the driving beat of 012009 are perfect examples. And in keeping with finding this lost art, each song on the CD all beautifully fade into the next. While each track does stand on its own for the ipod junkies and the downloader's laptop, "In The Wake Of What Won't Change" is best enjoyed from start to finish. ...another interesting concept.

Winners of the 2009 WBCN Rock n Roll Rumble, Nominated last year for a Boston Music Award as "Best Rock Band", and listed in many of the areas entertainment publications and websites as one of the top 5 bands to watch in 2010, The Luxury is without a doubt a band worth checking out. The CD is available for download and purchase at CD Baby and iTunes.

Go get it!