Guitars, Drums, Tones, and Saxophones

Lagwagon - I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon EP

I thought that since my main critique of Joey Cape’s solo album was the songs that are repeated from Lagwagon’s 2008 EP, I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon (hereafter shortened to Older Brother), it would be only fair to review that EP.

So Lagwagon took a break following the release/tour of their 2005 album Resolve, which was largely a tribute to their former drummer Derrick Plourde, who had committed suicide earlier in the year. Naturally, the band took the passing of their friend hard, and Joey Cape’s lyrics took on a darker tone. Some of the best albums of all time have been marked or inspired by personal tragedy (one jumps to my mind, a personal favorite: Eels’ Electro-Shock Blues).

But this isn’t about Resolve. It’s about the long-awaited follow-up.

This is the first recorded material from the band since Resolve, which makes it a bummer that it’s just an EP. I, like many fans, would have loved to get a full album. As it is, the 7 songs contained on this release are great, but we crave ever more.

As I said, the songs here are very good. Opener “B-Side” gets things rolling well, providing a driving 3 minute anthem, reminding listeners why they used to listen to Lagwagon. Personally, I think this is the best song on the EP. Listening to it, you can see the pit forming in your mind. And as the band careens through the following 6 songs, they sound energetic and tight. The music rocks in ways that make you want to sway and lunge in time (singer Joey Cape basically does that on stage, so it makes sense). The lyrics and vocals are excellent; Joey Cape, 18 years into his career, still has many fine songs to belt out, and his voice just seems to get better with age.

All in all, this EP is a great return from a long-standing, beloved band. My only complaint is that it’s not a full-length, which is all but expected after 3 years. Then again, Dillinger Four took 6 years to follow up Situationist Comedy, so I guess I shouldn’t complain too much.

Rating: 4 stars

Tags: lagwagon