Lola Ray Reviewed
Lola Ray
Liars
(Benevolent/226/Red Ink)
Brooklyn’s Lola Ray pull a Longwave on their sophomore album.
Like Longwave, Lola Ray’s debut album was more the work of one man (John Balicanta) than a band and was a little too tender/pop punk for its own good. When Longwave pulled together, they sounded like (as was then hot) Velvety NYC garage rock awash in My Bloody Valentine density and volume. Liars, Lola Ray’s newest, still pours out the emotions but fills the air with ambient, echoing guitar with a minor key lilt on Hot Hot Heat’s punch pop. “We’re Not Having Any Fun” isn’t so much dour as frustrated and “The Way We Argue” pouts while the song dances. Band effort or not, Balicanta’s cracking voice still carries the show, and his adolescent yelp above the Psychedelic Furs-ish din keeps things a little same-y. Normally the game doesn’t grant two mulligans, though it doesn’t seem as if Lola Ray have had a fair swing yet.
— Steve Forstneger
