Strawberry [Import]

Indie-rock band Wussy, fronted by singers/songwriters Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker, has been releasing a steady stream of albums and EPs since 2005. The last 'proper' studio album was the self-titled album in 2009. Eaerlier this year (in the context of the annual Record Store Day in celebration of indie record stores), the band released "Funeral Dress II", a live recording/reinterpretation of the band's stellar debut album. Now comes the 4th proper studio album.

"Strawberry" (11 tracks: 42 min.) kicks off with a dreamy "Asteroids" in which Chuck repeats "Way out/Beyond the asteroids/That's where you took my heart/And left it floating in a frozen void". As on past albums, Chuck and Lisa basically share an equal number of songs. For soome reasons the first half of the album is heavy on Chuck songs (4 of the first 5 tracks), and the second half on Lisa songs (including 3 of the last 4), rather than mixing things up. It doesn't really matter, though. The album is sequenced quite well, and the songs easily flow by. The best tracks for me are the afore-mentioned "Asteroids", the gently rolling "Waiting Room", the stomping "Chicken", "Fly Fly Fly" (which is the only song on here accredited to both Chuck and Lisa, but sounds mostly like a Chuck song), and the 6 min. epic closer "Little Miami".

In all, this is yet another sold album from Wussy. I've seen the Cincinnati-based band play on many, many occasions over the last 6+ years in many different avenues around town, including at the "CD release" show for this album not too long ago. In concert the songs on this collection rock even harder. "Strawberry" is highly recommended!

I love this album! The songs are great and the band is awesome. It is a plus that they are a sort of local band too. Thanks to WNKU for playing their music so folks like me can listen and become fans!