A Slew of Singles from Lydia Loveless
Maeri Ferguson
Posted On December 11, 2017
Though we heard hints of Lydia Loveless’s pop songwriting sensibilities early on in her career, it wasn’t until her 2013 Boy Crazy EP that we really got a full dose of it. Where she had previously focused on twangy rock and roll, Boy Crazy found her delivering more sugary hooks and melodies, particularly with songs like “All I Know,” with its handclap beat, and “Boy Crazy,” with its pop punk rambunctiousness. It was Lydia Loveless 2.0. She continued to explore that sound on her special Record Store Day release the following year, on which she paired a cover of Ke$ha’s “Blind” with her own equally appealing (if not far better) “Mile High.” It was addicting and a further glimpse into what was to come.
2014’s Somewhere Else and 2016’s Real brought us full-fledged pop rock from Loveless, who continued to show her impressive guitar skills and ability to craft flawless choruses that would forever get stuck in your head. Songs like “Really Wanna See You” and “Chris Isaak” (both off Somewhere Else) and Real’s “Longer” and title track are some of Loveless’ best work to date. With Loveless seeming to move more and more in this direction and with her subsequent solo tour underway, it was the perfect time for her release of a singles album. Boy Crazy and Single(s) combines the tunes off the EP of the same name, the record store day single duo, and a slew of other rarities, covers, and B sides that speak to Loveless’ passion for pop music. Highlights include the gut-punch Loveless original “Falling Out of Love” as well as an intensely emotional cover of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U.”
Live shows have Loveless paired with just her longtime guitarist Todd May as she plays stripped-down versions of favorites from across all her records. Audiences were treated to songs like “Verlaine Shot Rimbaud,” “Midwestern Guys,” “All the Time,” “Learn to Say No,” and “Somewhere Else,” to name a few. And while it’s always a blast to see Loveless rock out with her band, it is a welcome change to hear her sing her heart out with nothing but a couple guitars. The intimacy of these shows allowed us to reconnect with Loveless as a songwriter and singer, and served as a reminder that there’s just no one like her.
