The Lucksmiths
Encyclopedia
The Lucksmiths were an indie pop
band from Melbourne
, Australia
known for witty, intelligent lyrics, a strong melodic sense and a jangly pop sound harkening back to early-80's bands such as The Smiths
and The Go-Betweens
.
with their debut album, First Tape
. Later Lucksmiths albums and EPs would be been released on Drive-In Records (Later Microindie Records) and Matinée Recordings in the United States
, Fortuna Pop!
in the United Kingdom
, Clover Records
in Japan
, and Boompa! Records
in Canada
.
The band was expanded to a four-piece when Mid State Orange guitarist Louis Richter joined for the recording of the album Warmer Corners in 2005. (Louis is also the son of prominent criminal defence barrister Robert Richter
.) Following the closure of Candle Records in 2007 The Lucksmiths moved to Melbourne
-based label Lost & Lonesome for their last album, First Frost, which the Belfast Telegraph selected as its CD of the Week.
Despite cultivating a sizable following both in Australia and abroad, particularly in Europe, the Lucksmiths disbanded in 2009 after a series of performances in Europe and Australia. Their last concert was on 29 August 2009 at the Corner Hotel in their hometown of Melbourne.
The band's breakup did not prevent it from becoming involved in controversy in 2011 when a policeman in England was accused of intentionally inserting the title of one of their songs ("Self Preservation") into an official report concerning a murder.
, although some consider them more specifically a twee pop band. The majority of songs were written by Marty Donald, although White and Monnone also contributed songs. Songs by the Lucksmiths are mostly about love and relationships, but also deal with other everyday issues such as notable friends or warm weather. There are also recurring themes of Melbourne culture, especially that of inner city Melbourne, in songs such as "Under the Rotunda", "The Sandringham Line" and "Transpontine".
The Lucksmiths were renowned for their creative and witty use of language. The Canberra Times has referred to their music as "literate, gloriously melodic pop," with lyrics "rife with puns and wordplay." The Hobart Mercury called them "fiercely independent and refreshingly unique". In songs written by Marty Donald, lyrics often feature puns, wordplays and draw upon literary references or Australian English
idioms. The themes of weather, geography, and seasons appear often in the songs of the Lucksmiths.
Some of the band's influences included The Simpletons, Billy Bragg
, The Housemartins
, The Magnetic Fields
, Belle & Sebastian
, The Smiths
, The Go-Betweens
, Aztec Camera
, Lloyd Cole
, Orange Juice
, and The Trash Can Sinatras
.
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
known for witty, intelligent lyrics, a strong melodic sense and a jangly pop sound harkening back to early-80's bands such as The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
and The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals,...
.
History
The band was formed in 1993 by guitarist Marty Donald, drummer and vocalist Tali White, and bass player Mark Monnone, who were high-school friends. They became one of the first bands to release material on Candle RecordsCandle Records
Candle Records was an independent record label that operated from 1994 to 2007. Candle Records was originally based in Melbourne, Australia and founded in September 1994 by Chris Crouch....
with their debut album, First Tape
First Tape
First Tape is the first album by The Lucksmiths, originally released on cassette in 1993 and released on CD in 1996 on Candle Records -Track listing:# "Clichéd Title for Kris" – 1:39# "Cat in Sunshine" – 3:30...
. Later Lucksmiths albums and EPs would be been released on Drive-In Records (Later Microindie Records) and Matinée Recordings in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Fortuna Pop!
Fortuna Pop!
Fortuna Pop! is a British independent record label based in London, started in 1996 by Sean Price. It specialises in indie pop and indie rock music, released on 7" single, CD and vinyl....
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Clover Records
Clover Records
Clover Records was a United States based record label of the 1920s. According to their labels, Clover Records were manufactured by "The Nutmeg Record Corporation". At least some of Clover's output were pressed from masters originally recorded by Emerson Records and Grey Gull Records....
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and Boompa! Records
Boompa
Boompa Records is a Canadian independent record label, established in 2003 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.Artists who have released material on Boompa include Matt Sharp , Leeroy Stagger, Small Sins, The Salteens, Reverie Sound Revue, Run Chico Run, my project: blue, Hylozoists, Lullaby...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The band was expanded to a four-piece when Mid State Orange guitarist Louis Richter joined for the recording of the album Warmer Corners in 2005. (Louis is also the son of prominent criminal defence barrister Robert Richter
Robert Richter
Dr. Robert Richter was a film producer and co-founder with August Arnold of Arnold & Richter Cine Technik , ARRI Group....
.) Following the closure of Candle Records in 2007 The Lucksmiths moved to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
-based label Lost & Lonesome for their last album, First Frost, which the Belfast Telegraph selected as its CD of the Week.
Despite cultivating a sizable following both in Australia and abroad, particularly in Europe, the Lucksmiths disbanded in 2009 after a series of performances in Europe and Australia. Their last concert was on 29 August 2009 at the Corner Hotel in their hometown of Melbourne.
The band's breakup did not prevent it from becoming involved in controversy in 2011 when a policeman in England was accused of intentionally inserting the title of one of their songs ("Self Preservation") into an official report concerning a murder.
Musical style
The Lucksmiths' music can best be described as indie popIndie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
, although some consider them more specifically a twee pop band. The majority of songs were written by Marty Donald, although White and Monnone also contributed songs. Songs by the Lucksmiths are mostly about love and relationships, but also deal with other everyday issues such as notable friends or warm weather. There are also recurring themes of Melbourne culture, especially that of inner city Melbourne, in songs such as "Under the Rotunda", "The Sandringham Line" and "Transpontine".
The Lucksmiths were renowned for their creative and witty use of language. The Canberra Times has referred to their music as "literate, gloriously melodic pop," with lyrics "rife with puns and wordplay." The Hobart Mercury called them "fiercely independent and refreshingly unique". In songs written by Marty Donald, lyrics often feature puns, wordplays and draw upon literary references or Australian English
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
idioms. The themes of weather, geography, and seasons appear often in the songs of the Lucksmiths.
Some of the band's influences included The Simpletons, Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, The Housemartins
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
, The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields is the principal creative outlet of singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt...
, Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...
, The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals,...
, Aztec Camera
Aztec Camera
Aztec Camera were a Scottish New Wave band from the Glasgow suburb of East Kilbride, formed in 1980 and centered around teenage singer-songwriter, Roddy Frame. Their album Love was among the nominations for Best British Album at the 1989 BRIT Awards....
, Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole is an English singer and songwriter, known for his role as lead singer of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions from 1984 to 1989, and for his subsequent solo work.-Early life:...
, Orange Juice
Orange Juice
Orange Juice was a Scottish post-punk band founded in the middle class Glasgow suburb of Bearsden as the Nu-Sonics in 1976. Edwyn Collins formed the Nu-Sonics with his school-mate Alan Duncan and was subsequently joined by James Kirk and Steven Daly, who left a band called The Machetes. The band...
, and The Trash Can Sinatras
The Trash Can Sinatras
The Trash Can Sinatras, now generally known as Trashcan Sinatras, are a Scottish band that was formed in Irvine, Scotland in 1986. The band's music makes frequent use of wordplay and pop harmonies.-Formation:...
.
Albums
- First TapeFirst TapeFirst Tape is the first album by The Lucksmiths, originally released on cassette in 1993 and released on CD in 1996 on Candle Records -Track listing:# "Clichéd Title for Kris" – 1:39# "Cat in Sunshine" – 3:30...
(1993) - The Green Bicycle CaseThe Green Bicycle CaseThe Green Bicycle Case is the second album from The Lucksmiths released in 1995 on Candle Records -Track listing:#"Jewel Thieves" – 2:13#"Motorscooter" – 2:59#"The Tichborne Claimant" – 2:05#"Spond" – 2:43...
(1995) - What Bird Is That?What Bird Is ThatWhat Bird Is That? is the third album by The Lucksmiths released in 1996 on Candle Records -Track listing:#"Shine on Me" – 3:03#"Silver Friends" – 3:03#"Off with His Cardigan!" – 2:06#"Macintyre" – 2:17#"Snug" – 1:40...
(1996) - A Good Kind of NervousA Good Kind Of NervousA Good Kind of Nervous is the fourth album by The Lucksmiths released in 1997 on Candle Records -Track listing:#"Caravanna" – 3:05#"Under the Rotunda" – 2:51#"Train Robbers' Wives" – 1:55...
(1997) - Happy SecretHappy SecretHappy Secret is the fifth album by The Lucksmiths released in 1999 on Candle Records It is compilation of the tracks from four singles released in 1998.-Track listing:#"Untidy Towns" – 2:56#"Pin Cushion" – 2:52...
(1999) - Why That Doesn't Surprise MeWhy That Doesn't Surprise MeWhy That Doesn't Surprise Me is the sixth album by The Lucksmiths, released in 2001 on Candle Records .-Track listing:#"Music to Hold Hands To" – 3:47#"Synchronised Sinking" – 3:56#"The Great Dividing Range" – 3:17...
(2001) - Where Were We?Where Were We?Where Were We? is the seventh album by The Lucksmiths released in 2002 on Candle Records It is a compilation of tracks released between 1999 and 2001.-Track listing:# "The Cassingle Revival" – 3:17# "Myopic Friends" – 1:52...
(2002) - NaturalisteNaturalisteNaturaliste is the eighth album by the Australian band, The Lucksmiths released in 2003 on Candle Records .-Track listing:# "Camera-Shy" – 3:36# "The Sandringham Line" – 5:26# "Take This Lying Down" – 3:24...
(2003) - Warmer CornersWarmer CornersWarmer Corners is the ninth album by The Lucksmiths released in 2005 on Candle Records -Track listing:# "A Hiccup in Your Happiness" – 2:48# "The Music Next Door" – 4:33# "Great Lengths" – 3:28...
(2005) - Spring A Leak (2007)
- First FrostFirst FrostFirst Frost is the eleventh album release and ninth and final studio album by The Lucksmiths released in October 2008.-Track listing:# "The Town & The Hills" – 4:06# "Good Light" – 2:50# "A Sobering Thought " – 4:54...
(2008)
EPs
- BoondoggleBoondoggle (EP)Boondoggle is an EP from The Lucksmiths released in 1994 on Candle Records -Track listing:# "Victor Trumper" - 2:03# "Clever Hans" - 4:43# "Summer Town" - 3:52# "Tree" - 2:41# "21" - 5:08# "Umbrella" - 2:38...
(1994) - Staring at the SkyStaring at the SkyStaring At The Sky is an EP by The Lucksmiths released in 1999 on Candle Records -Track listing:# Smokers In Love # I Can't Believe It's Not Better # ie, eg, etc. # The Golden Age Of Aviation...
(1999) - A Little Distraction (2003)
- The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco (2005)
- A Hiccup in Your Happiness (2006)