Lulu (Trip Shakespeare album)

Last updated
Lulu
LuluTS.jpg
Studio album by
Trip Shakespeare
Released1991
Studio Pachyderm Studios
Genre Pop
Length54:43
Label A&M [1]
Producer Trip Shakespeare, Justin Niebank
Trip Shakespeare chronology
Across the Universe
(1990)		Lulu
(1991)		 Volt EP
(1992)

Lulu is an album by the Minneapolis-based band Trip Shakespeare, released in 1991. [2] [3] The band supported the album with a North American tour. [4] "Bachelorette" was a modern rock hit. [5]

Contents

The album's title track, a possible tribute to Hüsker Dü, has the refrain, "Do you remember? Do you recall?" [6] Those words are printed in large type on the album's liner notes, with the last phrase altered to "dü you recall"; Hüsker Dü's name is Danish for "do you remember".

Production

Recorded at Pachyderm Studios, the album was produced by the band and Justin Niebank. [7] [8] It was recorded live in the studio. [9] Dan Wilson felt that it was the first Trip Shakespeare album over which the band had almost total creative control. [10] The majority of the songs were written by Matt Wilson. [11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [12]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [13]

The Philadelphia Daily News wrote that Trip Shakespeare "spins wry tales of simple sorts who're back in town—a guy obsessed by his girlfriend's mouth, another who's sadly watching his sweetheart move out, a woman who's wasting her life away working nights and weekends at a convenience store." [14] The Chicago Tribune noted that Lulu "consists of power melody guitars and full-throated vocal harmonies, supported by John Munson's rubbery fretless bass and set into relief by Matt and Dan Wilson's honeyed lead vocals." [13]

The Washington Post called the band "lightweight, tuneful and appealing in a slightly too-chirpy way." [15] The Gazette determined that "the Wilsons are pop kleptomaniacs, lifting melodies as familiar as the girl next door and breathing life into them with perfect three-part full-colour harmonies." [16]

AllMusic deemed the album "a melodically complex and romantic pop masterpiece," writing: "It is a rare instance in the music industry, major label or otherwise, to hear an album created by a group so obviously enchanted and inspired by each other, an album so loved and so toiled over that its contents continue to give indefinitely, an album so steeped in worshiping beauty that no amount of criticism—positive or negative—can mangle or tarnish its crystalline brilliance." [12]

Track listing

  1. "'None of the Regular Rules Were True...'" – 0:17
  2. "Lulu" – 4:47
  3. "Bachelorette" – 4:04
  4. "Your Mouth" – 4:37
  5. "Will You Be Found?" – 3:42
  6. "Down My Block" – 3:15
  7. "Jill Can Drive" – 5:21
  8. "Look at the Moon" – 3:29
  9. "Graveyard" – 3:38
  10. "Bonneville" – 3:45
  11. "Today You Move" – 4:57
  12. "Patricia" – 6:36
  13. "'...Down the Dusty Road'" – 0:48
  14. "If You Miss Me" – 5:27
  15. [Untitled track] – 2:47

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Zen Arcade</i> 1984 studio album by Hüsker Dü

Zen Arcade is the second studio album by American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released in July 1984 on SST Records. Originally released as a double album on two vinyl LPs, Zen Arcade tells the story of a young boy who runs away from an unfulfilling home life, only to find the world outside is even worse. Zen Arcade and subsequent Hüsker Dü albums were instrumental in the creation of the alternative rock genre, and it is considered by some to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semisonic</span> American rock band

Semisonic is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1995, consisting of Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter. They are best known in the U.S. for their 1998 single "Closing Time". They also had international success with the singles "Singing in My Sleep", "Secret Smile" and "Chemistry".

<i>New Day Rising</i> 1985 studio album by Hüsker Dü

New Day Rising is the third studio album by American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released in 1985 on SST Records. The album continued the move away from the fast hardcore punk of the band's earliest releases toward slower, more melodic material.

<i>Warehouse: Songs and Stories</i> 1987 studio album by Hüsker Dü

Warehouse: Songs and Stories is the sixth and final studio album by punk rock band Hüsker Dü, originally released by Warner Bros. Records as a double album on two vinyl LPs. The band dissolved following the tour in support of its release, in part due to disagreements between songwriters Bob Mould and Grant Hart over the latter's drug use. This album, along with Candy Apple Grey, showcases the increasing maturity of Mould and Hart's writing—a change which alienated some long-time fans. This album is also known for its battle between the two songwriters, with Mould famously telling Hart that he would never have more than half of the songs on a Hüsker Dü album.

<i>Flip Your Wig</i> 1985 studio album by Hüsker Dü

Flip Your Wig is the fourth album by American band Hüsker Dü, released in September 1985. It was the best-selling album to that point for the band's label SST Records, and the last they made for that label. As the band's first self-produced album, they spent months in the studio to achieve higher-quality production for its melodic power pop songs.

<i>Candy Apple Grey</i> 1986 studio album by Hüsker Dü

Candy Apple Grey is the fifth album by the alternative rock band Hüsker Dü, released in 1986. It was their first major label album, though Warner Bros. had initially lobbied to release Flip Your Wig until the band decided to let SST have it. Candy Apple Grey also marks the completion of the band's transition from hardcore punk to a more well-rounded sonic style which would later come to be known as alternative rock. As usual, Bob Mould and Grant Hart individually wrote tracks on the album. While the band's earlier, more frenetic style is still evident, Candy Apple Grey also features more introverted, toned-down material, including a relatively large amount of acoustic guitar.

<i>Play Me Backwards</i> 1992 studio album by Joan Baez

Play Me Backwards is an album by the American musician Joan Baez, released in 1992. The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Recording. Baez supported it with an international tour.

John Munson is an American musician who is best known as the bass player for Semisonic. He was also a member of Trip Shakespeare during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Wilson (musician)</span> American musician

Daniel Dodd Wilson is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. His songwriting résumé includes "Closing Time", which he wrote for his band, Semisonic; "Not Ready to Make Nice", co-written with The Chicks; and "Someone Like You", co-written with Adele. He earned a Grammy nomination for "Closing Time" and won Grammys for Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

<i>Piece of Cake</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Mudhoney

Piece of Cake is an album by the American band Mudhoney. Released in 1992, it was their first album for Reprise Records. The album was released at the height of grunge, a genre Mudhoney had helped create.

Trip Shakespeare was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The band included Dan Wilson and John Munson, who would later go on to be founding members of Semisonic.

<i>Everything Falls Apart</i> 1983 studio album by Hüsker Dü

Everything Falls Apart is the debut studio album by Hüsker Dü released in January 1983 by Reflex Records.

<i>Across the Universe</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Trip Shakespeare

Across The Universe is an album released by Trip Shakespeare in 1990. It was the band's first release on A&M Records, the major label that they had signed with earlier in the year.

Matthew Robert "Matt" Wilson is an American singer-songwriter best known as the frontman of the band Trip Shakespeare.

<i>More Light</i> (J Mascis + The Fog album) 2000 studio album by J Mascis The Fog

More Light is the debut album by the alternative rock band J Mascis + The Fog, released in 2000. It can be seen as a solo album of sorts because Mascis played almost all of the instruments on the recording.

The Twilight Hours is a band formed by Matt Wilson and John Munson. Munson and Wilson also played together in Trip Shakespeare and The Flops, and Munson is also known for his work with Semisonic, The New Standards, and John Munson and the Witnesses.

<i>Polara</i> (album) Self-titled 1995 debut album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara

Polara is the self-titled first album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara.

<i>Are You Shakespearienced?</i> 1989 album by Trip Shakespeare

Are You Shakespearienced? is the second studio album released by Minneapolis alternative rock band Trip Shakespeare. It was released in 1989 on Minneapolis indie label Gark Records, then reissued in 1998 on Minneapolis label Clean/Twin/Tone Records, and again in 2014 on Omnivore Recordings.

<i>Applehead Man</i> 1986 debut album by Trip Shakespeare

Applehead Man is the debut studio album released by Minneapolis alternative rock band Trip Shakespeare. It was released in 1986 on Minneapolis label Gark Records, then reissued in 1998 on Minneapolis label Clean/Twin/Tone Records, and again in 2014 on Omnivore Recordings.

<i>Volt</i> (EP) 1992 EP by Trip Shakespeare

Volt is the final work released by Minneapolis alternative rock band Trip Shakespeare. A six-song EP of covers, it was released in 1992 by Minneapolis label Clean Records.

References

  1. ↑ Bream, Jon (22 Nov 1991). "Local rockers Trip Shakespeare still waiting for national splash". Star Tribune. p. 1E.
  2. ↑ Christensen, Thor (11 Oct 1991). "Openings". The Milwaukee Journal. p. D2.
  3. ↑ Pahnelas, Bill (September 11, 1991). "Trip Shakespeare". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. C6.
  4. ↑ LeComte, Richard (October 6, 1991). "Trip Shakespeare Keeps Its Sound". Lawrence Journal-World.
  5. ↑ Larsen, Dave (November 15, 1991). "Are You Shakespearienced?". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 18.
  6. ↑ Shefchik, Rick (September 27, 1991). "Trip Shakespeare Lulu". Lexington Herald-Leader. Knight Ridder. p. D6.
  7. ↑ "Show Goes On Despite Snow". Omaha World-Herald. April 22, 1992. p. 37SF.
  8. ↑ "Lulu by Trip Shakespeare". Billboard. 103 (38): 76. Sep 21, 1991.
  9. ↑ Surkamp, David (October 10, 1991). "Trip Shakespeare". Calendar. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8.
  10. ↑ MacInnis, Craig (18 Oct 1991). "Behold Pop's extravagant toolmasters". Toronto Star. p. D3.
  11. ↑ McCormick, Moira (November 17, 1991). "The live adventures of Trip Shakespeare". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 2.
  12. 1 2 "Lulu Review by Gregory McIntosh". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  13. 1 2 Rothschild, David (31 Oct 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  14. ↑ Takiff, Jonathan (25 Oct 1991). "Midwest Bards on Stage". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 52.
  15. ↑ Jenkins, Mark (1 Nov 1991). "A Surreal 'Lulu' of a '60s Trip". The Washington Post. p. N16.
  16. ↑ Lepage, Mark (9 Nov 1991). "Trip Shakespeare Lulu". The Gazette. p. E5.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.