Lydia - Assailants (2010)

Artist: Lydia
Album: Assailants
Date Released: July 20, 2010
Genre: Indie

Album Review:

Quick heads up, yes, I am intensely prejudiced in my review of bands I very much like. I will try hard not to do that here, as Lydia is my second favorite band (aside from Copeland).

This album is truly a farewell to Lydia's fanbase, with the opening song stating "we're glad you could make it, to our farewell..." A short EP, clocking in at 21:04, but every second of it is filled with a spacey, soothing atmosphere that leaves the listener in a wondrous daze. Leighton does an amazing job singing, even without Mindy (who is joining the Laurensons from Copeland and is forming States!). I've gotta say though, despite the amazingly beautiful songs Lydia can create, it is stuck in a box. Each album is unique, but inquiring within, the songs all have the same sound. Save for Music Makers, the album can wear quickly on the listener. It is a short album, i'd take it like a shot of vodka. For fans of Illuminate, this album will take you for a trip!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Song-by-song:

Enjoy the Show: A calm and intriguing intro - or should I say invitation - to this, their final album. A short track, representing the album well.

We Clean Up So Well: This song has such a powerful intro. It fills the room with rich, warm bass and a sparkling tone that only resembles something that an angel would have dropped on their way to heaven. My favorite track.

Empty Out Your Stomach: "There, there, pretty girl"...another amazing song, with harmony that definitely sets you off-kilter.

I've Never Seen a Witch: I love the lyrical message of this song. It is also a very soothing song. I could easily fall asleep, and happily, to this song. It is about a drama queen of sorts.

Music Makers: A very quirky interlude, and although noisy, I feel that the noisiness only helps to add to the haunting feel created by the song. Vocoders and keyboards fill the air.

A Place Near the City: A very calm song, especially during the verse, with the drumbeat and calm key strokes setting the mood.

Assailants: Another album with the title track as the outro, but here it fits, as it bookends the beginning, with the lines "I can't seem to kill my assailants, they just keep changing faces". Beautiful. I will miss you Lydia!