Lemuria - Get Better

Lemuria - Getter Better
Asian Man Records



"You never missed a word I tried to fit inside a chorus, inside a verse, all my intros and a bridge. That's where I put all the awful things I think I am, and if you still respect me I guess I'll have a second chance."

These lines open up Lemuria's debut full length, Get Better, and really set the tone for the overall feel of the album. I'd been hearing a ton about this band in late 2007, but I kinda slept on them. I'm not totally sure why, but I'm really regretting it now. I finally got into them, and I'm definitely glad I did.

Lemuria is a pop/rock/emo-ish band with co-ed vocals. The majority of the vocals are handled by Sheena, but there are male vocals from the drummer and bassist (Alexander and Jason, respectively). I hate to say it, as I'm not always a huge fan of girl singers, but Sheena's really draw you in and make this record a lot more interesting. The male vocals seem uninspired and bland. While Sheena's vocal patterns can get stale at times (see: chorus to "Hawaiian T-Shirt"), she has a way of turning a phrase and making something so simple get stuck inside your head for hours. I found myself singing the chorus of "Lipstick" between classes at work the other day. Glad my kid's didn't catch me singing "Maybe I should wear lipstick too." And while the chorus of that song is what really hooks you, the verse lyrics are simple, yet sad and something that I think a lot of us can relate to, male or female.

Overall, the jangly guitars, sweet female vocals, and simple, yet heartfelt lyrics make this a great power-pop record, that is definitely deserving of the hype. I'm kicking myself for sleeping on this band for so long, and it's definitely time for me to start delving into the back catalog of splits, 7 inches and comp tracks to really see what else this band has delivered. I suggest you do the same.