Music of the 2000's - Lucero

For all of '09, DJdc will be featuring songs, artists or albums that we liked, loved, hated or feel had a broad impact.

While we have our on opinions, we'd rather have yours. Your input may lead to use in a future DJdc article ...

Lucero - That Much Further West (2003)

In the midst of the indie-pop revolution came Lucero's legendary country-punk album, That Much Further West.

For me, the album struck like lightening on a clear summer night. I had been a Steve Earle fan since my early teens and this album - this band - made me feel like I did when I'd listed to early Earle records. Ben Nichols' raw, stressed and strained vocals resonated throughout the album with songs was full of piss and vinegar, angst and destitution, and of course, women troubles and bottles of whiskey. That Much Further West was the album that I'd listen to when I needed to relate to music whose roots were closer to my gravel-road up-bringing than most of the other music to which I was listening.

There are albums we love because there are a few songs we know by heart but there are relatively few albums in which each song is cherished. That Much Further West is one of those albums. I can put a time and place with almost every song from "That Much Further West" and "Hate and Jealousy" to "Tears Don't Matter Much" and "When You Decided To Leave" Lucero created a brilliant album that was not only one of the best of 2003 but the decade.

That Much Further West is one of my all-time favorite albums of any genre and any decade.

Recommended if you like:
Social Distortion, Steve Earle, Cory Branan, Jason and the Scorchers

Bonus: Lyrics to "Tears Don't Matter Much"

Matt Bradley's got the broken teeth
He wears a jean jacket with a bullet in the sleeve
He's just another Southern boy who dreams of nights in NYC
And I sing along
I sing along

My tears don't matter much,
They don't matter much
They don't matter much

Doug Deluca's voice could break a heart
I recorded every song
I used up three whole tapes, and put 'em in a box
To give away
To break a heart

My tears don't matter much,
They don't matter much
They don't matter much

When the boys sing their songs
And the kids they sing along ...
I'm just another Southern boy who dreams of nights in NYC
And I sing along
I sing along

Cory Branan's got an evil streak
And a way with words that'll bring you to your knees
Oh he can play the wildest shows and he can sing so sweet
I still sing along

My tears don't matter much,
They don't matter much
They don't matter much

When the boys sing their songs
And the kids they sing along ...

I'm just another Southern boy who dreams of nights in NYC
And I sing along
I still sing along

My tears don't matter much
They don't matter much
They don't matter much
They don't matter much
They don't matter much
They don't matter much
They don't matter much
They don't matter much