Review Summary: A stellar album by a band that got lost in the shuffle.
In the mid-2000s there was a massive flood of whiny pop-punk/post-hardcore bands. Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance ruled the landscape, with roughly 2087653985764 lesser known bands vying for attention. With there being such an overabundance, many talented bands fell to the wayside. Lorene Drive was one of those unfortunate bands. Despite having an undeniable fun factor and talent all around, they were never able to catch on with a larger audience. It is a shame, because
Romantic Wealth is a very strong debut album by a band that seemed destined for bigger things.
Lorene Drive never had the most unique sound, but they knew how to make the most out of it. Vocalist Dan Murillo possesses a fantastic voice, able to carry most songs with his vocals, both clean, semi-clean, and the occasional scream. Songs like “So Easy” and the album highlight “Change Of Occupancy” show off Murillo’s talents best, with “Change of Occupancy” switching from soft, quiet vocals during the verses, to wailing during the chorus. The guitarists aren’t the most talented, but they definitely have an ear for catchy, heavy melodies, a la the best days of Funeral For A Friend. The drumming is nothing overly crazy, but provides a steady backbone throughout the entire album.
Murillo’s lyrics are a bit of a double edged sword. He can have very clever moments, while other times he can be either very cliché and/or eye-roll inducing. “A Song In The Key Of Sex” is exactly that, with uncreative lyrics that don’t help things. Luckily Murillo’s skills keep this from being too much of a problem throughout the course of the album. The fun factor of this album cannot be overstated, with punchy songs and big choruses on almost every track, creating a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Another plus is the fairly short run-time of thirty-six minutes, as it keeps the album from being a chore.
Lorene Drive were a band that seemed to have everything in their corner to be big, and it just never happened. It is a shame, as
Romantic Wealth probably should have been exposed to a bigger audience. Lorene Drive broke up in 2009, with Murillo going on to join Hollywood Undead (dead serious) that same year. Recently, Lorene Drive got back together with a new album coming in the future. Time will tell if they still have what made this album great.
