Sep
5
2007
The Lucksmiths – Spring A Leak
Posted by luna6 1 Comment
Artist : The Lucksmiths
Album : Spring A Leak
Release Date : September 10, 2007
Website : The Lucksmiths
Label : Matinee Records
Rating : 5.5
Users Rating: 9.6 
(5 votes)
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Amazing to think the Aussie indie pop band the Lucksmiths have been around for well over a decade. Even more amazing for the fervent fans of the band would be the latest release from the Lucksmiths titled “Spring A Leak”. A massive (and I mean MASSIVE) 45 song collection of all never before released material. B-sides from those cherished 7″ singles, live tracks, alternate versions, demos, remixes, cover versions all exist on this sweetly packaged double cd album. It’s enough to make a skinny cardigan wearing kid uncuff his rolled up jeans and jump up for joy. Also for the more fanatical fans, a bit jaded from buying all those ultra-rare ($$$) 7″ releases from Ebay and what not.
Personally not being one of the more ardent Lucksmiths fan, but always enjoyed the band in small spurts, “Spring A Leak” can get a bit overwhelming with the amount of material found on the album. Too much of a good thing maybe? The band even stated that the songs collected here are not all the cream of the Lucksmiths crop but rather a collection of interesting jewels for fans and the curious alike. Cover songs range all over the map from the engaging Bee Gee’s cover of “I Started A Joke” to the excellent Magnetic Fields cover of “Deep Sea Diving Suit” to the rather limp cover of the Smiths “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”. A live radio sessoin of “A Hiccup in Your Happiness” sounded remarkably flat compared to the original from “Warmer Corners”, while “The Winter Proper” (an unreleased b-side) showed the band spreading their wings with a more dynamic sound in a good way.
For avid Luckmsiths fans that don’t own a lot of these unreleased tracks already “Spring A Leak” will bring about a whole lot joy. For others it all depends on your penchant for outtakes taken from a singular but engaging indie folk band with heart. I did find the album uneven enough to not warrant repeat listens (from start to finish), but did find a handful of jewels that will pop up on mix cds and random mode on the digital media player.
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Tracklist :
DISC 1
1) Falling Off of My Feet Again (compilation track, Siddeleys cover)
2) Point Being (b-side)
3) The Invention of Ordinary Everyday Things (7″ version)
4) Synchronised Sinking (previously unreleased radio session)
5) Postcard (previously unreleased, Simpletons cover)
6) The Year of Driving Languorously (compilation track, radio session)
7) Even Stevens (previously unreleased radio session)
8) There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (compilation track, Smiths cover)
9) Macintyre (7″ version)
10) The Winter Proper (b-side)
11) Anyone’s Guess (compilation track)
12) $30 (compilation track)
13) Get Well Now (7″ b-side)
14) A Hiccup in Your Happiness (previously unreleased radio session)
15) Deep Sea Diving Suit (b-side, Magnetic Fields cover)
16) Punchlines (live on television)
17) Snug (previously unreleased alternative version)
18) I Prefer the Twentieth Century (Hydroplane remix, compilation track)
19) To Absent Votes (b-side, compilation track)
20) Make a Wish (previously unreleased Cat’s Miaow cover)
21) Smokers in Love (live, previously unreleased)
22) Are You Having a Good Time?!?! (7″ b-side)
DISC 2
1) From Macaulay Station (b-side)
2) I Started a Joke (b-side, Bee Gees cover)
3) Once Again (compilation track)
4) How to Tie a Tie (Pipas remix, compilation track)
5) Rushes of Pure Spring (previously unreleased, Ladybug Transistor cover)
6) Rue Something (b-side)
7) Off With His Cardigan! (previously unreleased radio session)
8) Camera-Shy (live, previously unreleased)
9) Requiem For the Punters Club (b-side)
10) Yunta Hair (compilation track)
11) Dignified and Old (compilation track, Modern Lovers cover)
12) Caravanna (7″ version)
13) The Thought That Counts (compilation track)
14) Up (7″ version)
15) Boat (Bedridden cover, compilation track)
16) Broken Bones (compilation track, radio session)
17) Danielle Steel (live, compilation track)
18) Dolly (previously unreleased, Sugargliders cover)
19) Shine on Me (7″ version)
20) Transpontine (Andrew Kaffer remix)
21) The Tichborne Claimant (live, compilation track)
22) I’ve Got It and It’s Not Worth Having (compilation track, Boyracer cover)
23) Your Favourite Shirt (previously unreleased demo)
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I’m putting together a fan homage to the Luckers in the form of a zine. Please contribute! Send your anecdotes, comic strips, drawings, poems, ticket stubs, photos, etc to lucksmithszine@gmail.com and include your name and city if you want.
Contributors will be sent a copy of the final zine (in soft copy, at least).