Should've Learned by Now

by Lucero

Overview

Lucero are a band who take their rock & roll seriously, and 2018's Among the Ghosts and 2021's When You Found Me were clear reflections of that: albums that dealt with serious themes with the appropriate degree of gravitas and thoughtful intent. They were serious enough that while both albums were powerful and emotionally engaging, they were just a bit short on fun, and Lucero knew it. 2023's Should've Learned by Now is a corrective response, an album where the band focuses on rocking out and bringing the party more than they did on their two previous LPs. Lucero's idea of fun has never been simple or simple-minded, and there's more than a little soul-searching on numbers like the heartfelt "She Leads Me" or the Springsteen-esque "At the Show," where the protagonist wants nothing more than for the woman he loves to hear the songs he's written for her. But the one-two punch of the lead-off tracks, "One Last F.U." and "Macon If We Make It," delivers some swaggering, fist-pumping joy that's been in short supply since 2015's All A Man Should Do, and the breakup stories "Nothing's Alright" and "Drunken Moon" and the cool snarl of "Buy a Little Time" may not be full of laughs, but they connect with the confidence and strength of a crack rock band at cruising speed. The impassioned grit of Ben Nichols' vocals is used to excellent effect here, and the full-bodied punch of Brian Venable's guitar and Rick Steff's keyboards is the place where punk-adjacent attitude and classic-rock grandeur meet and learn to get along. Among the Ghosts and When You Found Me were outstanding albums that reflected a difficult time for the world in which Lucero lives. Should've Learned by Now makes it clear things still aren't always a breeze for them, but they've learned that sometimes you just need to plug in that guitar and shake off the bad times as best you can, and they've done so like the great band they are. Put this on, turn it up, and join them in the party. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	02/24/2023
Label:	Liberty And Lament
UPC:	0793888102774
Rank:	42405

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lucero   Primary Artist
Cory Branan   Vocals (Background)
Brian Venable   Guitar (Electric)
John C. Stubblefield   Guitar (Bass)
Rick Steff   Piano,Moog Synthesizer
Ben Nichols   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Roy Berry   Drums,Percussion
Jesse Davis   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Brian Venable   Group Member
Jeff Powell   Master Cut
Jonathan Pines   Mastering
John C. Stubblefield   Group Member
Rick Steff   Group Member
Ben Nichols   Design,Composer,Group Member
Roy Berry   Group Member
Brian Schwartz   Management
Matt Ross   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Brody Miller   Management
Dave Caron   Design
Kerri Snead   Photography