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Reviews
CD Reviews | Myspace Music Reviews | Live Reviews
CD Reviews
MySpace Fan Review, July 12, 2006
"Sad Flower Songs" arrived Monday, and it's been in the player ever since. Great work! The title reminds me of Baudelaire's Les Fleurs Du Mal. I was listening to "Lost Lovers" and it struck me again who [Lucretia X. Machina's] voice reminds me of. Back in 1984, when I was first 'groved', the pagan community was passing around Steeleye Span albums. Your voice really reminds me of their lead singer. I don't know what ever became of them but I did notice that the Medieaval Babes covered some of the same songs Steeleye Span had done. As to "Lost Lovers", yes, haven't we all had a happy evil angel to contend with? [Lucretia's Daggers'] songs work because [Lucretia] is a great storyteller. Anyway, I love the album and it has only served to make me wait eagerly for [the band's] next project. I am looking forward to seeing what guitarist Futurist Tarquinius comes up with musically. Until then, take care.
-Paul Keyes,TX http://www.myspace.com/prkjava
Lemurvision Sad Flower Songs: **** (4 stars) September 2006
http://www.lemurvision.com/SadFlowerSongs.html
Lucretia's Daggers is one of the best bands you've probably never heard of and this release
absolutely kicks; there's not a stinker on it. Here's the track by track breakdown.
1. Scapegoat - A bludgeoning track that's rife with melody. Lucretia Machina sings
with grit and passion while Darrell Brown and Futurist Tarquinus prove quite adept with
crunching rhythms and stinging leads. Gets the album off to a strong start.
2. Drawn and Quartered - We get more wrenching lyrical content but that doesn't keep
this tune from being a kickass rocker. Stephanie LaMassa's keyboards straddle the line
between techno and industrial and complement the punishing riffs beautifully.
3. Lost Lovers - Once again we get great heavy rock combined with memorable hooks.
Machina has a gift for shifting from seductive to gritty as the song requires and the whole
band performs as a crack unit.
4. Fallen Moon - This one comes off as hard-rocking cabaret music and anyone who
invokes the Goddess in a catchy song is cool in this Wiccan Lemur's book. Even if you're
not a Pagan, you'll find a lot to dig here.
5. End of Oil - Martial riffs propel this environmental song and it's a good one. In a
contemporary sonic landscape of nu-metal cock rock lyrical dreck, a song like this is a
welcome relief.
6. The Sickness - Not, thankfully, a cover of Disturbed. No, this one sounds more
like a rebirth of The Tubeway Army. It's a really cool track so the band's shift in gears
isn't the least bit jarring and Stephanie LaMassa gets to really cut loose with delightful results.
7. Eb & Flo - Another memorable, rocking track. The chorus from this one is virtually
guaranteed to get stuck in your head.
8. The Horrors of Retail - A surreal track about, surprisingly, the horrors of retail. As a
former Phar-Mor employee, this song articulated my descent into the utter hatred of our
customers perfectly. Past and present wage slaves will love it. Just don't ask me about the
creepy motherfucker who asked me if Tylenol came in a suppository.
9. Souler Coaster - Chugging, driving monster with especially good work from Machina;
her soaring background vocals are just fucking gorgeous.
10. Sucker/Savior - A really sweet mesh of synth-pop and heavy rock; it's a combination
that sounds like it has no business working, but it does, and does beautifully. Extra points for
unbridled lyrical vitriol.
11. Dust - Lucretia's Daggers shifts gears once again for a drop-dead gorgeous baroque
pop song. Machina kinda sounds like she's channelling Andy Partridge on this one.
12. Sacrifice - They save the heaviest beast for the finale. It's crunching and ominous
adorned with lilting synths and again, they make an unusual juxtaposition work really well.
Check out the band at www.myspace.com/lucretiasdaggers -- you can listen to a few
tracks from the album there and then feel free to give in to your better judgment and buy the cd. -Maneating Lemur
Metronome September 2006
"Singer-songwriter Lauri Murphy is the knife wielding architect behind the band
Lucretia's Daggers. She along with programmer-bassist Darrell Brown, keyboardist
Stephanie LaMassa and guitarist Steve Arsenault kindle darkly textured songs
tainted by a gothic, progressive feel that are both personal in nature as well as
general observations of what Murphy may encounter in her world. Her lyrics are
deep and thought provoking and unearth everything from poisons, to the end of
fossil fuels, to the drudgery of retail. It's safe to say Murphy has lived these songs
first hand and has plenty to say about it. If you like your music with an ominous
edge, you'll love the stick of Lucretia's Daggers."
Northeast Performer September 2006 http://www.performermag.com/nep.recrevs.php
Reviews Recorded, p. 60
Lucretia’s Daggers — Sad Flower Songs
Engineered, recorded, and mixed by Scott Matalon at Music Lane Studios
Presenting an updated mythology of the rape of Lucretia by Sextus Tarquinius, Lauri Murphy and Steve Arsenault adopt the characters of Lucretia X, Machina and Futurist Tarquinius to become Lucretia’s Daggers. Sad Flower Songs, Daggers’ firstfull-length album, is a collection of fairly standard dark, brooding Goth fare. And though the band’s music may not be as original as its fantastical characters, the album is still very enjoyable.
The tunes are composed mostly of heavily programmed tracks, a la Nine Inch Nails, along with some crunchy guitar, bass work and keyboard highlights. Murphy’s vocals are generally wry and attitude-infused, invoking another "character singer,” Lady Galore of the Lords of Acid. There are some instancesof pitch problems, but overall the vocals are very appropriate for the musical style.
In keeping with the Goth tradition, the bulk of the lyrical material is dark, dealing with topics ranging from a spurned lover to the end of the world. The music, while contributing to the ominous undertone, also retains plenty of energy, edgingtowards an industrial feel at times, and presenting some memorable hooks as well. The result is an interesting dichotomy between the lyrical melancholy of Sad Flower Songs and the often upbeat, danceable rhythm and instrumental work.
There are also a few instances of striking contrast to the prevailing formula; “Lost Lovers” features a much lighter, floating vocal quality that works well with the hectically paced instrumentals. The last track [sic], “Dust,” is much more relaxed than the rest of the tracks, sounding strikingly like a standard pop ballad, though itis one of the best songs on the album.
Lucretia’s Daggers does run the risk of being cliché; it is important to remember that there is some aspect of irony in what the band does. In case the audience forgets or fails to realize, Daggers provides an obvious hint with “The Horrors of Retail.” Keeping this in mind, the lack of originality is not entirely lamentable, and overall, Sad Flower Songs is a fun and highly enjoyable album. -Brian McGrath
The Noise Magazine, Boston, MA April 2006
Lucretia's Daggers Sad Flower Songs 12-song CD), p. 33
Pagan party girl, avowed liberal and environmentalist, ManRay scenester and
probably one of the most supportive female concert-goers the local scene
will ever have, singer/songwriter Lauri Murphy has taken all of her
influences - from her love of industrial and dark-wave music to her anger
about corporate exploitation and soured relationships - and created
Lucretia's Daggers' first release Sad Flower Songs. On "Lost Lovers" she
expresses her pain over a failed relationship very honestly and artfully,
her voice sounds goddess-like and there is very little pretense. I have seen
her live shows and was used to a harsher, angrier style; upon hearing this
song I have to say it's the standout on the CD for me and would love her to
do more like it! "Fallen Moon" is another song where she uses her voice to
its fullest potential, with gorgeous melancholy harmonies and a catchy
chorus. Versatile guitarist Steve Arsenault is a great foil for the band's
genre jumping, from experimental electronica to metal, showing influences
ranging from Brian Eno to Vovoid. Lauri sites Fiona Apple and the Dresden
Dolls as influences and her passionate vocals take a cue from those artists'
intimately confessional styles.
(Leah Callahan)
Steve Eaton: www.myspace.com/darthsidious1973 March 29, 2006
Sad Flower Songs full-length CD:
It’s finally here! The full length debut disk from the Massachusetts band Lucretia’s Daggers is called Sad Flower Songs. Each song is a petal on a magnificent flower, but I would argue that some of these flowers are not necessarily sad. They are often in your face commentaries which cover a variety of topics. The leadoff track, “Scapegoat”, is a perfect example. On this cut, Lauri Murphy’s [Lucretia's] vocals are melodic yet gritty as she narrates through a tightly constructed wall of rumbling guitars, buzzing synthesizers and pounding electronic beats. Lucretia’s lyrics leave no room for uncertainty when the narrator informs her former “sad and silly sweet little man” lover that he can no longer pollute her flowerbed. The harsh elements of this song are balanced by multilayered vocal melodies. “Scapegoat” is a bold undertaking for a pop artist because its lyrical style is busy and complex. It is a testament to the prowess of Lucretia’s Daggers that they are able to pull this track off.
When this track ends the adventure continues as the band explores a variety of musical and lyrical styles without deviating from the band’s signature sound. After tearing through an energetic version of the band’s concert staple “Drawn and Quartered” Lucretia’s Daggers slows down for “Lost Lovers”. The lyrics to this song are intricate, clever and filled with longing but the song is straight forward pop brilliance. “Fallen Moon” has equally impressive pop sensibilities in addition to edgy guitar riffing and distinct analog synthesizer layers. It’s indisputably one of LD’s finest cuts to date. “The End of Oil” shows that Lucretia and company have a political conscience, while “Sucker/Savior’ is clearly here for the contingent of LD fans who enjoy their music with a touch of industrial.
If there is any justice in this world then “The Horrors of Retail” will be heard by a large audience. In some ways it’s a novelty track, yet I expect it will touch a familiar chord in the hearts of many listeners who dwell in the dreaded realm known as retail. Lucretia vocalizes frustrations many people in this profession feel when they interact with customers who are never wrong. Although Lucretia’s intonation is filled with bitterness, her humorous lyrics prove that she is not taking herself too seriously here, even if her message is both serious and sincere. The keyboards on this track are particularly playful and cinematic.
In short, Sad Flower Songs is the work of a smart, dark, and talented band. I suggest you pick up your copy today. Visit www.lucretiasdaggers.com. Tell them Steve sent you
From Dust: Dark Art and Music Journal,#5,
Northampton, MA Summer/Autumn 2004
Lucretia's Daggers CDR Review (demo), p. 34
This disc is a 5 song demo of rough-around-the-edges
goth rock from Massachusetts-based 4-piece Lucretia's Daggers. The music
is competent, if not breathtakingly original, sounding as if the band
is just beginning to find their voice. The female vocals (courtesy of
Lauri Murphy) remind me just slightly of early Shroud material, and while
the recording is raw, it is enough to show potential in the material,
and hint that the live experience might be a worthwhile one. It will be
interesting to see how Lucretia's Daggers develops...
-e. David
The Noise Magazine,
Boston, MA April 2004
Lucretia's Daggers 5 songs (demo), p. 20
Let me begin by saying that despite its several
flaws, I truly enjoyed this disc and believe that with a few modifications
this band can be a great addition to the Boston goth scene. Although the
band says they wish to move towards a more industrial sound, I would urge
them not to. Their underproduced guitar tones, synths, and simple drum
machine patterns give them a retro '80s sound which sets them apart from
the other goth bands around now. Going industrial would just make them
sound generic. The vocals suffer a bit in the first three songs, mostly
for two reasons: the vocalist has some difficulty staying in pitch, and
often the lyrics try too hard to be poetic and/or eloquent. Because of
this, the singer often sounds as though she is rushing to fit in too many
syllables into each phrase. On "Eb & Flo" and "Souler Coaster" she slows
down, and the songs work much better. Furthermore, if Lucretia's Daggers
would prefer to stand out from the other goth bands, how about getting
rid of the black leather/fishnets and photos in the cemetery? How about
a goth band that dresses all in white? That would be truly creepy. Still,
this release is a great start. (Z)
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Myspace Music Reviews
Review of 4 songs on www.myspace.com/lucretiasdaggers:
1. Scapegoat, 2. Drawn & Quartered, 3. The Sickness, 4. Dust
July 6, 2006
Wow... Stumbled across your MySpace place completely by accident and have to say I am impressed. Finally a voice in this genre that is fearless and unintimidated by either the music or the lyrical content. Strong enough it seems to stand on it's own without the usual compression tricks and other studio nonsense. I would even go so far as to make comparisons to a very young Grace Slick (back when she could still sing and instill fear in the media). Yeah, this vocalist is all that. Combined with lyrics whose poetry seems to embrace irony as more than a lifestyle, I haven't heard an artist this honest since Freda Kahlo (that is, if you'll allow me to compare music to painting.) Lucretia's Daggers definitely belongs in heavy rotation on anyone's playlist. That is if it doesn't embarass the rest of the stuff off your I-pod.
-Paul Keyes,TX http://www.myspace.com/prkjava
Space Junkies Magazine anniversary issue
Review of 4 songs on www.myspace.com/lucretiasdaggers:
1. Scapegoat, 2. Drawn & Quartered, 3. The Sickness, 4. Dust
Posted on http://www.spacejunkies.net 7/1/06 - 7/31/06:
When a band is named after the suicide weapon of choice for a woman in ancient Rome, you kind of get an idea of where it's headed. Comprised of vocalist Lucretia X. Machine and guitarist/sequencer/bassist Futurist Tarquinius, Lucretia's Daggers specializes in dark, industrial and goth tinged rock that could be heard pumping out of many a club in the early 90s. "Scapegoat" and "Drawn and Quartered" are decent industrial dance tunes, but when things slow down, Lucretia's Daggers runs into a bit a trouble. "The Sickness" suffers from doinky keys and a scattered, instrumental break that confuses the whole mood. Their second torch burner, "Dust," fares a little better with improved key tones and spotlights some great vocal turns by Ms. Machina. Fans of industrial and goth should take note. Just keep your expectations realistic; these daggers are not as lethal as Nine Inch Nails.
--David J. Patterson
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Live Performance Reviews
Mass. Morgue at The Skybar, Somerville, MA October 29, 2006
third annual local Halloween band/art/performance event
The weekend preceding Halloween ended in style. On Sunday I went to check out the Mass. Morgue festival at Sky
Bar in Somerville. During this night I had the pleasure of witnessing two of Boston's greatest bands, namely Lucretia's
Daggers and Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys. Needless to say, both acts blew me away.
Army of Broken Toys went on first. Their stage was decorated with a wide assortment of toys and other objects,
including an old record player (which was silently spinning. The band opened up with a spectacular rendition of "This is
Halloween" from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. As Walter hissed and whispered the song's
famous passages his bandmate Edrie (formerly a broken toy) played with the toys on the stage while moving
seductively in time with the haunting music. Not surprisingly, many eyes were on Edrie because her appearance is
reminiscent of the sensual icon Betty Page.
The set included several songs from their debut. During "The Long Wait" Edrie joined Walter for a deeply emotional
vocal performance which almost brought me to tears. Both Walter and Edrie have suffered losses on a scale similar to
my own. I felt as if they were reaching out to me with this performance. Together, their voices make for a dark and
enchanting harmony. The live version of "Sacrilege" (one of their disk's best tracks) was spellbinding.
Lucretia's Daggers was the fourth act to perform. The last time I saw them live Lucretia had three bandmates.
Now she collaborates exclusively with guitarist Futurist Tarquinius. Futurist had a tough act to follow when he
joined Lucretia's Daggers, but has unquestionably surpassed all expectations. He reinterprets the songs from
their debut CD, Sad Flower Songs, while remaining faithful to the recorded versions. His style is "heavier"
than that of his predecessor, Darrell Brown.
I turned several shades of red when Lucretia dedicated "The Horrors of Retail" to "Steve Eaton of the silver
cape". Needless to say, their performance of this song was superior. I will weep if they ever remove it from
their set list. Another highlight was "Sacrifice". During this song Lucretia's bone chilling vocals were brilliantly
complemented by Futurist's thunderous guitar riffs. The band introduced two new cuts, both of which were
wonderfully executed. Other set highlights included "Fallen Moon", "The End of Oil" and "Lost Lovers".
There was more to Mass. Morgue than these two acts. I was introduced to the hypnotic and highly experimental music
of a duo known as Dreamchild. Their performance was theatrical and lyrical. Ultra Plush went through a particularly
energetic set. Throughout the night beautiful gothic people wandered the room. There was even a belly dancer between
some sets. Unfortunately, I did not stay around to witness the fifth band because it was a work night. As it is, I did not
get back until after 1AM.
Steve Eaton
http://blog.myspace.com/darthsidious1973
Mass. Morgue at The Skybar, Somerville, MA October 29, 2006
third annual local Halloween band/art/performance event
That was a phenomenal show last night.
Walter Sickert and Edrie are just a joy to watch and hear. I expected Walter to "Walk On Gilded Splinters", so much
did he resemble Dr. John. The feathered headress he wore was a hoot. Edrie is his perfect complement. I'm sure the other
photographers got it, but I actually of retreating briefly to the bar. Isn't she like one of those white peaches my teenage
rocker son loves so much? A ripe peach.
I accosted Ultra Plush's pretty little bass player after their set and asked her if they'd been rehearsing a lot since I saw
them last. She said they had. Then the drummer walked up, so I asked him, too. Same answer. The reason I asked was
that this band has gotten so tight in such a short time that they deserve a huge tip of the hat. The rhythm section, especially,
was cooking. Eric David Love deserves a perfect band to surround him, and now he has it. The backup vocals of their
guitaris/vocalist were lovely. This is a good-looking band, too, so they have it all, in my opinion.
Dreamchild, once again, were beyond this hack writer's ability to verbalize. It's gotten to the point where, as soon as I
hear the opening chords of their "Ave Maria", away goes the camera. I can't get enough of them performing this masterpiece.
I was absolutely bowled over by the current incarnation of Lucretia's Daggers. I kept saying to myself "this is really all Lucretia needs".
Her guitar player, Futurist, is a monster, and with the drum machine, they fill the room, plus it's such a polished performance by Lucretia
from beginning to end that I was feeling happy for that little imp. What an amazing stage presence she has! Lucretia started the set wearing
her trademark blue hat, but eventually it came off, revealing a mane of hair that only went to increase her overall magnetism.
I'd love to see the video of this show, as she is the most energetic and bouncy unit I've seen yet, and my poor amateur still photos are no match
for such a physical performer. Her vocals have increased in strength and confidence since I last saw her live in 2004. Wow.
On the way home, I mentioned to Joanne and Screeg how I can't get over how excellent all Anderson Mar shows are.
I realize that Mass. Morgue is a Lauri Murphy production annually, but, once again, every act is excellent.
I asked Screeg if there are any clunkers anywhere nowadays (Screeg and I have been co-conspirators on the music
scene since 1970.) He said yes, he's seen shows with very raw acts, as recently as weeks ago. Our little band of fans
drove away in agreement that we've been enjoying a streak of sensational shows for quite awhile, now.
I salute Anderson and Lauri.
-Tom / Tas / Kaiser Ape
Kaiser's (Tom Calo's) Blog: http://kaiserape.com/blog.htm
An Awe Inspiring Performance March 18, 2005
Independent performance
review, Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge, MA
Boston-area Emergenza Competition:
Round One
On Friday night I finally had the opportunity
to witness my friend Lauri (aka Lucretia) and her band Lucretia's Daggers
perform upstairs at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA. They were one of
seven acts to participate in the latest round of Emergenza, a festival/contest
showcasing up and coming bands. Not surprisingly, Lucretia's Daggers was
one of the three music groups to earn the most audience votes, which means
they will advance to the competition‘s next round. Sometime in the near
future they will appear at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston
for phase two of the contest.
Lucretia’s Daggers was the final band of the evening to perform. Moments
before the band took to the stage, there was a distinct hum of excitement
within the audience, many of whom came specifically to witness the energetic
front-woman and her talented musical comrades. When the overhead lights
dimmed, streaks of red and blue fell upon the quartet. The drum machine
spit forth a steady series of beats as Lauri emerged from shadows with
microphone in hand to sing the opening lines of “Sucker/Savior“. Her voice
was unwavering as the band swelled and erupted. For the next twenty-five
or so minutes the crowd was treated to a gothic feast of sound. Lauri’s
voice was darkly sensual as it filled the room with the lucid melodies
of “Fallen Moon” and “Souler Coaster“. While her tones never stray far
from the sublime, she clearly is capable of expressing bitterness, particularly
in “Horrors of Retail” and “Sucker/Savior“. The former, which Lauri dedicated
to anyone who ever had the displeasure of working in retail, was a particular
treat. The song’s narrator speaks from the point of view of a retail employee
who is called “hey“ by customers. Since I spent a number of years in the
demeaning level of purgatory known as retail, the song struck a chord
with me. I would be surprised if audience members in similar situations
did not consider it a highlight of the performance. This track is definitely
a keeper.
While Lauri is clearly in the driver’s seat of Lucretia’s Daggers as its
architect and songwriter, the band is far greater than a collection of
back up players, as was evident from their noteworthy performances. The
gritty rhythm guitar of Darrell Brown contrasted with the lush backdrop
of sounds emanating from Stephanie's synthesizer. These two instruments
combined to build a level of tension that was bridged by the bass playing
of Tony Puleo. Darrell’s guitar playing was multilayered; his melodic
guitar breaks contrasted with his chugging rhythm work. Stephanie used
the broad expressive range of her instrument to put forth a varied series
of sounds that enhanced the songs with additional layers. There was an
undeniable chemistry between the band members, which was impressive because
Friday was Tony’s live debut. Unfortunately, the sound quality was occasionally
hindered by an inadequate mix. At various points the vocals, synthesizer,
and bass were buried. Of course, the sound board people at The Middle
East had a difficult challenge since they were working with bands playing
distinctly different styles of music. Regardless, the unevenness of the
sound quality was more than compensated by the energetic output of all
four members, each of whom had a strong stage presence and adorned distinctive
gothic attire.
Lucretia’s Daggers is maturing. While the songwriting was superb on their
homemade disks, there were a few holes in the material‘s execution. The
Middle East show demonstrates a band that has refined and crafted its
sound considerably over the past year. Lucretia’s Daggers is at an exciting
phase of its development. It seems obvious that Lauri has lived and breathed
these songs for a while now. At last, she has a band capable of realizing
her ideas. Lucretia’s Daggers is currently recording its professional
debut, Sad Flower Songs, with producer Scott Matalon, who is
also the front man for the local sensation Daisycutter. I expect great
things from Lucretia’s Daggers in the future. Since I will be moving to
Portland, Oregon this summer, I will have to expose these powerful songs
to my new friends on the west coast. Hopefully Lauri and company will
find a way to perform across the country.
Nice job, Lucretia’s Daggers.
Steve Eaton
http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=6862510&Mytoken=20050321000806
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