The Lucky Jukebox Bridgade - Familiar Fevers

The Lucky Jukebox Bridgade

Familiar Fevers
self-released; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By Samantha Kanne

The Lucky Jukebox Bridgade calls Albany their hometown and indie dance their genre. They site Gogol Bordello, The Dear Hunter and Beirut as “sound-a-likes” which is evident but I would go as far to say that they sound a little like Arcade Fire and No Doubt as well. Their sophomore album is called Familiar Fevers.

“Bend At the Marsh” sounds the most No Doubt-esque. It might be the combination of snappy bass, quick drums, the deep, rather sexy voice of the lead vocalist Deanna and the interesting use of tubas and saxophones in the background. Upbeat, dance-worthy and dramatic, “Bend At the Marsh” might be a good stand out track; ready to be a single.

There are some smart and fun moments on Familiar Fevers. A part of me believes the seven-piece band realizes that their tempos are rather fast. Some tracks, “They Chose Rapture” specifically, almost reward the listener for sitting through three minutes of a burst of high energy and lyrics with the remaining three minutes: slower tempo, more harmonies, a hauntingly beautiful piano riff and dramatic drums. A handful of The Lucky Jukebox Brigade’s tracks drop a few tempos halfway through. I like the element of surprise and can appreciate the little treat.

“Glamour” takes me back to that No Doubt feeling again. Think of “Bathwater” from 2000’s “Return of Saturn” or the 1995 “Tragic Kingdom” hit “Spiderwebs” only a little less electronic. I really can’t help but hear a bit of Gwen Stefani’s deep, husky and exciting voice in Deanna’s. 

The band sound great with some emotional weight in their songs. "Meridian" combines orchestral sounds with an acoustic guitar and contains melancholy along with triumph. They close with now of the highlights of the album entitled "Lionel II". The song sounds huge and is quite grandiose.

For the most part, though, The Lucky Jukebox Brigade’s Familiar Fevers is a little like coffee. You have to have an acquired taste for it. It’s a little strong at first, but when you add some creamer and sugar (a.k.a. the little surprises in a few tracks) you will learn to actually enjoy it all.

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