Lovedrug’s first record, Pretend You’re Alive, is honestly still one of my favorite albums. This album holds some of the most honest and moving songs I’ve ever heard, like “Down Towards the Healing” and the title track “Pretend You’re Alive.” The piano and often drawn out guitars created a dark ambiance with heart wrenching lyrics from Michael Shepherd’s breathy vocals. 
Sadly to say, there are only a handful of songs on The Sucker Punch Show that I really liked. In reality, I actually hated it at first, but after a few listens, parts of it have grown on me. I believe this is due to the fact that on tracks like “The Dirtiest Queen†and “Everyone Needs a Halo,†Lovedrug has actually traded their original sound for something more rock ‘n roll. Shepherd’s unique voice just fails to seem made for this kind of genre, even when he attempts growly, throat singing to match the gritty grunge guitars.
Most tracks don’t have these traits, but generally, the album is not the sound you may be expecting. Furthermore, to hear Shepherd use lyrics like, “she’s a slut†on “Broken Home†is really quite surprising. This is proof enough that this Lovedrug is not the same band that I fell in love with.
I personally like more tracks like “Fake Angels,†“My World,†and “Dying Days†on this record, because this is the sound I had hoped to hear: similar to their original sound, but more progressive and full. The lyrics also are more personal than remaining tracks. Therefore, this is not the album I would recommend to someone who has never heard Lovedrug before, but for those that have been fans, I would say give The Sucker Punch Show a chance. It may grow on you.
I hope it does.
Lovedrug’s The Sucker Punch Show will be released by Militia on October 28, 2008.
Tracklisting:
01. Let It All Out
02. Only One
03. Blood Like
04. Everyone Needs a Halo
05. The Dirtiest Queen
06. Borrowed Legs
07. Broken Home
08. Fake Angels
09. My World
10. Hante’ Bruit
11. Panicked Witness
12. Dying Days
Written by: Melissa Cowan
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