reviews

The cherished Australian indie-pop band the Lucksmiths dissolved in 2009, after 16 years of witty, melancholy, melodic songwriting and performing. A couple years after the band's end, the announcement came that three-fourths of the final lineup had a new band, Last Leaves. Fans have been patiently waiting the past five or so years for music from Last Leaves beyond a couple demos lead singer/songwriter Marty Donald posted online years ago. The time has come. "The World We Had" is the first single off their upcoming debut album, and it's a beauty. A romantic weekend is fondly recalled, but can those memories be trusted? What they had is gone, and where did it go? All that's left is a feeling of loss, tinged with wisps of remembered beauty and tenderness, all wrapped up in loud guitars and harmonies. --PopMatters

Australian indie titans The Lucksmiths delivered their final album (First Frost) back in 2008; now key members have delivered a fresh track under their Last Leaves project. This alone is cause for celebration; the ironic alliterative twist is merely frosting on the sonic cake. (How fitting that one band’s final album includes the word first while the new project includes last.) Even if you aren’t familiar with The Lucksmiths, you have plenty to love in “The World We Had.” This is a song for modern times. Its warm melodies echo ‘90s-era Britpop; the lyrics capture our collective frustration about global affairs. The repeated refrain of “The world we had / where did it go?” is one we can all understand. Whether you find yourself looking back at a former relationship or just a happier time when life didn’t seem so upside down, this song is instantly relatable. --The Revue

I was just saying how much I miss the Lucksmiths when lo and behold here’s a brand new video from three-quarters of them. Last Leaves has been teasing us with the possibility of new music for years now, but this is the first we’ve heard about a full album. Marty Donald, Mark Monnone, and Louis Richter recruited drummer Noah Symons and recorded Other Towns Than Ours in their fancy treehouse in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges where this video was filmed. The song sounds lovely. A little beefier than the Luckies with crunchier guitars and heavier drums. And Donald’s voice isn’t as “pretty” as Tali White’s, so the overall vibe is less twee and more rock and roll. I’ve listened to this at least 30 times in a row now and it continues to reveal its charms. Gone are the signature puns and clever wordplay, but that doesn’t mean they won’t turn aphrase to conjure up emotions. I can’t wait to hear the album. Autumn is the perfect time for this type of music. --Glorious Noise