LOCAL H - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO P.J. SOLES?

\"A lighthearted romp through the pop sensibility of soft rock\" are words you shall never hear uttered in conjunction with the name Local H. In fact, if someone does tell you that, myself excluded, shoot them dead.
That’s right, ladies and gents. The dynamic duo from Zion are back with their fifth full-length release, Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles?, and you would think time would have softened singer/guitarist Scott Lucas\' wiry tongue, but, if you think that, chances are you ride the special blue bus.
Overall, the album has a conceptual feel; a technique that worked splendidly on their underrated third album, Pack Up The Cats. Lucas\' songwriting weaves the tale of fame and its downfalls with lyrical continuity that is reminiscent of Pink Floyd\'s Wish You Were Here. But, for the most part, the lyrics can also be taken in as just the highs and lows of life. Concentrating more on the lows, Local H construct the album in a way in which each song is different than the last, either through lyric or tempo changes.
The album’s first single, \"California Songs\", capitalizes on Lucas\' sharpened sarcasm and wit as he denounces the commercialism and pretentiousness of California, with lines like, \"Yeah, your heaven is a lie / Just more shit that I don’t buy.\" This song’s social commentary and fist-pumping fuck you charisma are tired and true tropes for the band; nonetheless, the song sounds fresh and poignant in this world of carbon copy pop-punk acts that infest radio airwaves.
As Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles? winds down, you get a melting pot of different rock styles. From the ethereal sounds of \"P.J. Soles\" and \"Dick Jones\", to the hardcore punk rock ferocity in \"Heavy Metal Bakesale\", to \"Buffalo Trace\", which is reminiscent of Neil Young from the days of Rust Never Sleeps. This album also shows Local H experimenting with various effects on the guitars and vocals, giving many of the songs an otherworldly air to them, while creating an intense emotional drive.
Local H is a rarity. They are a band that has had its initial brush with success, but continues to grow and develop even under the media’s radar. Give it a spin, or go drink a gallon of bleach.