George Lassos The Moon

Scott Lucas is best known as half of the Chicago-based, rock duo Local H; but, on his debut solo album George Lassos the Moon, he explores the softer side of things -- adding horns, violin and even accordion -- and proves that quiet and sad can be just as powerful as loud and angry. Lucas didn't feel like this particular set of songs would work as a Local H record. It was very clear that these songs were different, he says. They were just too personal to be on anything other than a solo record. Ironically, doing a solo record required a bigger band, so he pulled together a new backing band from Chicago's rich indie music scene. We each staked out our own section of the studio and just played the songs live. I mean, there's the usual stuff in there that everybody name checks when they make rootsy records--stuff like Neil Young and the Band. But when I listen to this album, I hear a lot of Pink Floyd and Pavement-as well as Mark Lanegan's first solo record. I'm totally fine with that. Most exciting....potent. - Jim Derogatis, Chicago Sun-Times