By KENDAL A. GAPINSKI / Cocalico
Bands that mix quirkiness with depth are a hard thing to come by. Luckily that's just what Ludo does best.
Ludo consists of Andrew Volpe, Tim Ferrell, Tim Convy, Marshall Fanciullo and Matt Palermo.
Ludo's first major-label album is "You're Awful, I Love You."
Ludo's first major-label album, "You're Awful, I Love You," combines crazy lyrics with catchy pop. Ludo works to keep your attention … and succeeds.
The album contains 12 tracks, each one having a completely different feel to it. While the actual music is good on all of the songs, it's the lyrics that show off the talent of the band.
"Topeka" is a great example of this. It's one of the first acoustic songs on the album, which helps to catch the listener's attention. While the first three songs are more energetic and humorous, "Topeka" serves as the contrast. Containing some of my favorite lyrics on the album, such as "Every saint has a past/Every sinner has a future," "Topeka" is the one song I put on repeat.
"Topeka" isn't the only gem on "You're Awful, I Love You." "Lake Pontchartrain" tells the story of three friends who travel to a lake, only to discover that it comes to life and snatches away two of the friends. Strange, I know. While it may sound like something off of a Halloween soundtrack, Ludo somehow manages to add an intangible charm to the song, making it a favorite.
As I listen to the songs, I can't help but think, "What a strange mix." It's that weirdness, though, that makes Ludo stand out from other contemporary artists.
Songs like "Go-Getter Greg," a tune about a guy who is determined to make his new neighbor his girlfriend, add an originality that is a breath of fresh air in an age where top pop teens dominate the radio. Although I personally think Greg sounds creepy watching his new neighbor, I still find the song fun.
Human-eating lakes and neighbor-stalking men may manage to ride that fine line between fun and insane; however, "The Horror of Our Love" loses its balance slightly. The a cappella vocals are beautiful, yet despite their beauty, they can't mask the gore factor of the lyrics. Lead singer Andrew Volpe calmly sings to his love, "I will eat you slowly." Beware, kids: You need a strong stomach to handle these lyrics.
Ludo reminds me of the type of band I would wait three hours in line to see live. They are full of energy, fun and talent — the perfect combination for a concert.
With such unique, amazing work on this album, Ludo is one band to get anyone out of a music rut.
If you need a break from the norm (And don't we all?), check out Ludo's "You're Awful, I Love You." It's one CD that will keep you thinking.
FYI
WHAT: Ludo, "You're Awful, I Love You"
COST: $7.99
PURCHASE: www.ludorock.comSEE THEM LIVE: Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Crocodile Rock Cafe, Allentown
NOW PLAYINGChameleon Club, 223 N. Water St., Lancaster:
5:30 p.m. today: Hatebreed, with Emmure, Soilent Green, War of Ages and Catalepsy; $16 in advance, $18 day of show
7 p.m. Sunday: Indigenous; $12
7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13: Reggie & The Full Effect with MC Chris, Leathermouth and Warship; $13 in advance, $15 day of show; all ages
7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16: Built to Spill with Meat Puppets; $20; 18 to enter
6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18: Beneath the Sky with Shot to Pieces, From Their Eyes and Combat the Panda; $10 in advance, $12 day of show; all ages
6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23: Horse the Band with Heavy Heavy Low Low and So Many Dynamos; $10 in advance, $12 day of show; all ages
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26: They Might Be Giants; $20; 14 to enter
6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29: Fear Before the March of Flames with Damiera and I Am The Ocean; $20 in advance, $25 day of show; all ages
6p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30: World Inferno Friendship Society; $10 in advance, $12 day of show; all ages
Champion Ship, Lemoyne; all shows are all ages:
7 p.m. Saturday: The First Step, with Get the Most, Mindset, Hostage Calm, Breakthrough and Warpriest; $10
6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12: Death Threat, with Wisdom in Chains, Bracewar, Crown of Kings, Mother of Mercy and Brick; $10
6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13: Emarosa, with Burden of a Day, In Fear and Faith, Attack Attack!, The Years Gone By, Kyrie and Darling Overboard; $10 in advance, $12 day of show
6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19: Punchline, with Safari So Good, Hit or Miss and more; $7 in advance, $8 day of show
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23: Mock Orange, with Miniature Tigers, Espenshade, Gulls and more; $8
6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24: Whitechapel, with Through the Eyes of the Dead, Impending Doom and A Different Breed of Killer; $12 in advance, $14 day of show
6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26: Dollface, with Kinsey and House Exit; $7
The Coffee Co., 1638 Lititz Pike, Lancaster; all shows 7 to 9 p.m., including:
Tonight: Frankie Big Face — acoustic pop originals
Friday: Tom Herr — acoustic covers and originals
Saturday: Jim Folker — acoustic country
Thursday, Sept. 11: Amanda Wells — solo acoustic guitar
Friday, Sept. 12: Leanne Spurlin — acoustic rock
Saturday, Sept. 13: Mark & Kathie Rickart — folk, oldies and country duets
Thursday, Sept. 18: Cold Springs Road — Americana, folk and bluegrass
Friday, Sept. 19: Lou Menga — oldies and classic rock
Saturday, Sept. 20: Jack Brunner — country, soft rock and oldies
Thursday, Sept. 25: Christoper Brooks and Don Grabowski — jazz violin and bass
Friday, Sept. 26: Jack French and Todd Borkey — soft acoustic rock from the '60s to today
Saturday, Sept. 27: Jason Mundok and Jordan Rast — Americana, country and folk
Crocodile Rock Cafe, Allentown
5:30 p.m. tonight: Stonerider on the mainstage, $10 in advance, $12 day of show; Liferuiner, A Well Thought Tragedy and more, $10; 7 p.m.: Jackson Waters, $13 in advance, $15 day of show
6 p.m. Saturday: Gorgeous Frankenstein with Cryptkeeper Five, $12 in advance, $15 day of show; 7 p.m: Motion City Soundtrack with Margot and So & So's, Dear and the Headlights; $16 in advance, $18 day of show
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12: Beneath the Sky, with Dead to the World, Forever my Nightmare and Misfittoyz; $12 in advance, $14 day of show
5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13: PolkaDot Cadaver and Nicholas Megalis; $10 in advance, $12 day of show
6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14: Valencia, with Sing it Loud, Single File and Cash Cash; $8 in advance, $10 day of show
7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20: Mindless Self Indulgence; $18 in advance, $20 day of show
5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21: Conditions and more; $10
6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24: A Day to Remember, Four Year Strong and Crime in Stereo; $15
6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25: Sea of Treachery; $13 in advance, $15 day of show
5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26: Once Nothing and Beneath the Sky, $12; 7 p.m.: Lest We Forget, with Corsair and Nowheres End, $12 in advance, $14 day of show
5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28: Inhale Exhale, Oceana, Dead and Devine, My Hero Is Me and more; $12
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30: Seether, with Ashes Divide; $25
Festival Pier, Philadelphia:
7:30 p.m. Friday: My Morning Jacket; $36
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Md.:
5 p.m. Sept. 13: 3 Doors Down, with Hinder and Finger Eleven; $29.50 to $75
Noon Sunday, Sept. 21: Sugarland, with Rodney Atkins, Billy Currington, Jason Michael Carroll and Laura Bryna; $40 to $75
6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30: The Allman Brothers Band with Phil Lesh and Friends; $35 to $75
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4: Staind, with Seether and Papa Roach; $25 to $40
Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, N.J.:
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12: Rascal Flatts with Taylor Swift; $35.75 to $75.75
3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20: Martina McBride with Jack Ingram; $30.75 to $51.50
6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26: Mary J. Blige with Robin Thicke; $59.75 to $250.75
7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27: Weezer with Angels and Airwaves and Tokyo Police Club; $50
Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain, Scranton:
6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12: 3 Doors Down; $19 to $59
Wachovia Arena, Wilkes Barre
7 p.m. Monday: American Idols Live; $79 and up
York Fair
8 p.m. Friday: Larry the Cable Guy; $40 and $45
8 p.m. Saturday: Gavin Degraw; $20 and $25
7:30 p.m. Monday: Blake Shelton, with Miranda Lambert; $25 and $28
7:30 p.m. Tuesday: ZZ Top; $32 and $35
7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Breaking Benjamin, with Seether; $32 and $35
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11: Brooks & Dunn, with Rodney Atkins; $38 and $42
8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12: Danity Kane, with Jada; $20 and $25
8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13: Daughtry; $36 and $40
Kendal Gapinski is a senior at Cocalico High School. E-mail her at YourLife@LNPnews.com.
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