Following the surprise breakout success of their self-titled debut in 1993, Candlebox return with LUCY, a worthy successor that amply displays the maturity which the group's playing has experienced as a result of eighteen hard months of touring.
Kevin Martin's singing still resonates with a scratchy timbre that is a perfect vehicle for his tormented lyrics, while drummer Scott Mercado and bass player Bardi Martin make up a formidable rhythm section that provides a sturdy ballast for the arena-grunge juggernaut sound that Candlebox aspires to. Peter Klett's guitar playing has also developed considerably since the debut, placing more of an emphisis on the instrument's overall swirling sound, leaving behind the preoccupation with flashy solos.
Much of the conflict in these songs touches upon the problems that dot troubled relationships. "Become (To Tell)" focuses on the emotional land-mines found whenever uncertainty enters into the mix, while on "Understanding" Martin howls with frustration when he sings about the hearsay and meddling that can ruin a dialogue between lovers. LUCY's most ambitious offering is "Butterfly," a track with a reprise that closes out the album. This low-key, moody piece slowly escalates from an intro of understated guitar into a heavier sound that ebbs and flows, as the lyrics speak of breaking free into a more peaceful state of mind.
