Lemuria

"Buffalo, NY’s Lemuria has been toting its catchy, scruffy ’90s-era indie power-pop since 2004, being consciously consistent by releasing material on split EPs and 7-inches throughout its six-year career. On Pebble, Lemuria’s sophomore effort (released via Boston-based Bridge Nine Records) and the follow-up to its 2008 debut Get Better, the band strips down and sheds its innocence.

 Album opener “Gravity” sets a moody, almost ominous tone, where vocalist/guitarist Sheena Ozzella’s vocals are left feeling vulnerably exposed over minimal guitars, droning bass and quiet drums. “Wise People” churns the album forward with the same biting lyrical tone, but sugarcoats things slightly as Ozzella cheerfully declares, “because I mind, and I certainly matter/unlike you, I have time to think ways up to take you down.” 

Drummer/vocalist Alex Kerns delivers on “Pleaser,” both behind the drums and on supporting, monotonous harmonies, and carries his own weight with songs like “Yellowstone Lady” and “Different Girls.” The latter is a bold-faced lie to a lover about his (lack of) infidelity while on tour, with Ozzella playfully teasing, “It’s in your imagination, of course.”

 Production by J. Robbins (Jawbreaker, Against Me!) ensures that the guitars and bass are fuzzed-out but clear, the songs are crunchy but clean and that Ozzella and Kerns’ dual vocals function on a left-brain/right-brain level. When one steps back, the other shines, and songs like “Ribcage,” “Chautauqua County” and “The One” find balance between the two. With Pebble, Lemuria strikes a balance with an album that’s just as bitter as it is sweet, trading its youthful optimism for an older, and wiser, outlook." - CMJ

With some of the sweetest sounding girl/boy dueling vocals heard in indie rock in years, Buffalo, NY’s Lemuria is poised to be one of 2011’s breakout artists. Formed in the summer of 2004, the band has released a myriad of splits and 7"s and one full-length titled Get Better (released on Asian Man Records in 2008) that Punknews called the best debut full-length of the year. Lemuria toured alongside bands like New Found Glory, Screeching Weasel and Polar Bear Club and ultimately signed with Bridge Nine Records in 2010.

The band’s debut Bridge Nine album, Pebble, is chock full of catchy choruses, intricate guitar work and sugary vocals. The pristine recording was done at the Magpie Cage with producer J Robbins (Hey Mercedes, The Promise Ring, Jawbreaker) and delivers 11 solid tracks that are perfect for fans of Superchunk, Tegan & Sara, Get Up Kids, and Sebadoh.

RIYL: Superchunk, Cub, Tigers Jaw
TRY: #2, 3, 7, 10, 11 - DIRTY: #8

Full Album Available Here:
https://www.piratepirate.com/downloads/

More Info Here:
http://www.lemuriapop.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lemuria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemuria_(band)
http://www.facebook.com/Lemuriapop
http://www.punknews.org/bands/lemuria
http://twitter.com/lemuriapop
http://www.punknews.org/review/9886