Lover!

Memphis songwriter Rich Crook used to be in the Reatards, and Lover!, his latest outfit, reflects a bit of that group's synthesis of electronic music and rock. But with Lover!, it sounds like Crook and company have learned a great deal from Scottish power pop, '60s psych-garage and Big Star...

By Tom Murphy

November 12, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Memphis songwriter Rich Crook used to be in the Reatards, and Lover!, his latest outfit, reflects a bit of that group's synthesis of electronic music and rock. But with Lover!, it sounds like Crook and company have learned a great deal from Scottish power pop, '60s psych-garage and Big Star. The pop songcraft of the band is impeccable, even though it clearly embraces frayed edges of sound and sonic imperfection as an aesthetic on its recorded output. With a brazen lo-fi approach that borders the territory of Siltbreeze acts, Lover! puts out an infectious energy that recalls vintage-era Elephant 6 in terms of tone and sheer exuberance. A bit like Donovan's trippy era laced with heavy doses of speed, Lover!'s music may sound a bit retro but is very much of the moment.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

Follow:

Twitter: @simianthinker