Search - Bruce Lash :: Prozak for Lovers II

Hard rock classics done as gentle bosso nova songs by Bruce

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 01/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is what happened. I like to put together playlists. Lots of playlists. I like to take favorite albums, (e.g., "Blood on the Tracks," "Led Zeppelin IV") and put together versions consisting entirely of covers by other artists. Other times I like to put together covers for particular bands, which is how I came to discover Bruce Lash. I was working on a playlist consisting of covers of Nirvana songs and in addition to the likes of the King singing "Come As You Are," and both Tori Amos and Paul Anka doing "Smells Like Teen Spirit," I came across Lash's cover of "Lithium." Now, think about that song for a moment and then think of what is would sound like if it was done with a gentle bosso nova beat. No wonder the title of this album is "Prozak for Lovers II."



Offered for your soothing enjoyment are "10 songs of alientaiton and disenfranchisement made soothing and warm." Certainly we are all aware from all those "unplugged" albums and concerts that if you stripped away the rock sounds and slow down the beat you can give yourself new ears with which to hear familiar songs. That is why this album begins with a slinky slow and sensual "Blister in the Sun" and goes on from there. I like the xylophone on "Mexican Radio," although on "Misty Mounty Hop" it is a bit too cute. Then again, the change of pace with more up tempo numbers like the "Heart of Glass" duet is appreciated. "Psycho Killer" is particularly effective when done this way as is "Reputation" (with a guest female vocalist). When you get to the distinctive version of "Alabama Song" by the Doors, you should be completely hooked on the madness. As for "Lithium," I think it is far and away the best track on the album. Certainly it is the one I am listening to the most. This all might qualify as background music, but it that is your criteria this clearly fulfills any and all such needs in that particular direction.



As near as I can find out Bruce Lash makes his living doing commercials, and given what he demonstrates with these arrangements I would be inclined to think he has the perfect mindset for such a career. Yes, there is a "Prozak for Lovers" album that came out before this one, which I am listening to as I write this. It provides more in a similar vein, including versions of "Proud Mary" (which starts off nice and ends nice according to the introduction) "Folsom Prison," "Aqualung," "Love Will Tear Us Apart," and "(Don't Fear) the Reaper." At that point Lash was part of a mellow lounge duo doing classic hard rock covers songs by the likes of David Bowie and the Clash as bossa nova. No wonder Lash's albums are marketed as ultimate lounge party CDs, "Dripping with sarcasm, dusted with irony, drowned in cynicism" (to wit, "I Wanna Be Sedated"). Who can ask for anything more?"