Second Nature

by Lucius

Overview

Not counting Nudes, a 2018 set of covers and acoustic reworkings, Second Nature represents the first studio album from Lucius in an eventful six years. During that time, dual vocalists and co-songwriters Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig spent over a year touring stadiums as backing singers for Roger Waters, lent vocals to albums by the likes of Waters, Sheryl Crow, Harry Styles, Ozzy Osbourne, the War on Drugs, and Brandi Carlile, and between the two of them experienced life events including divorce and motherhood -- not to mention a pandemic. It was during lockdown together in Los Angeles that Wolfe and Laessig conceived the songs for Second Nature, a mix of '80s-infused disco-pop and power ballads showcasing the singers' in-demand blended, emotive vocals. What takes the album to the next level, though, are songs that seek out composure following heartbreak. Second Nature opens with a sleek pair of melancholy dance-pop songs, the title track and funkier "Next to Normal," which delivers lines such as "When everyone's the same, it's time to separate yourself" in a robotic unison before their voices gradually separate into harmony and countermelody. Having established Second Nature's persistently active or underlying dance beats, they finally dig into meatier, full-range vocals on third song "24," a ballad that sets the stage for the rest of the album ("It's been 24 days since I knew your name/24 hours 'til I get on this plane/And 24 words I could rearrange to try and explain what I'm going through"). They return to full-fledged, sparkling dance-pop on "Dance Around It," a song that features the aforementioned Crow and Carlile, the latter of whom co-produced Second Nature with Dave Cobb. A standout among a sturdy set is centerpiece "The Man I'll Never Find," a piano ballad (with drums and strings) that wants what it can't have, featuring vocal performances on the verge of tears. Lucius quickly recover with yearning yet confident songs about things like broken promises, white lies, and "Tears in Reverse" ("turn into love"). While previous albums saw Lucius shift from a mix of melodic indie pop and folk to a sassy alt-pop, Second Nature steps firmly into a more mature adult alternative realm befitting the subject matter, without abandoning playfulness or high-contrast dynamics (or bandmates Dan Molad and Peter Lalish, who appear here) in the process. ~ Marcy Donelson

Product Details

Release Date:	04/08/2022
Label:	Mom + Pop Music
UPC:	0810090090276

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lucius   Primary Artist
Dan Molad   Vocals (Background),Drums,Vocoder,Mellotron,Percussion,Synthesizer
Pete Lalish   Guitar,Sampling,Mellotron,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background),Guitar (Nylon String)
Holly Laessig   Vocals,Clapping,Piano
Solomon Dorsey   Bass,Bongos,Mellotron,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Synthesizer,Synthesizer Bass,Vocals (Background)
Jess Wolfe   Vocals,Clapping,Wurlitzer,Synthesizer
Drew Erickson   Organ,Piano,Strings,Clavinet,Synthesizer
Gabriel Cabezas   Cello
Eli Teplin   Synthesizer
Sheryl Crow   Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Brandi Carlile   Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Rob Moose   Viola,Violin
Dave Cobb   Guitar (Acoustic)

Technical Credits

Dan Molad   Drum Programming,Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Group Member
Pete Lalish   Group Member
Holly Laessig   Composer,Group Member,Creative Design
Solomon Dorsey   Assembly,Drum Programming
Andrew Brightman   Production Manager
Jess Wolfe   Composer,Group Member,Creative Director
Robert Beatty   Design,Artwork
Jon Conrad   Creative Design
Jenn Decilveo   Composer
Casey Cuayo   Mixing Engineer
Brandon Bell   Engineer
Randy Merrill   Mastering
Michael Goldstone   A&R
Gabriel Cabezas   String Engineer
Drew Long   Engineer
Eli Teplin   Composer,Drum Programming
Phillip Smith   Assistant Engineer
Eli Heister   Mixing Engineer
Max Wanger   Photography
Sonia Gauvin   Design
Greg Koller   Engineer
Brandi Carlile   Producer
Rob Moose   String Engineer,String Arrangements
Rob Kinelski   Mixing
Dave Cobb   Producer
Trent Dabbs   Composer
Lori McKenna   Composer