This three-track EP shows why Australia's the Lucksmiths are one of the top indie pop groups around. The leadoff track, "Midweek Midmorning," is three minutes of sunny melody, jangling guitars, subtle drumming, and wry lyrics gorgeously sung by Tali White -- pretty much the template of their lazy, lovely sound. The moment when the tempo doubles and the horns kick in is the kind of pop moment that will remind you why you fell in love with music in the first place -- a classic track. The second song, "Point Being," is acoustic guitar-driven and melancholy and features some nice handclaps. Track three is a bit of an epic. "Requiem for the Punter's Club" lasts five minutes, but you'll wish it could go on for ten. It begins with just guitar and vocals, works in a harmonica solo, and builds to a finale featuring what sounds like the entire clientele of the Punter's Club singing the chorus in unison. The feeling of loss and regret tempered by camaraderie and a good joke at 3:45 a.m. is palpable. The Lucksmiths are making the best music of their career and this disc is an essential part of any indie pop collection.   --All Music Guide

 

Matinée Recordings and The Lucksmiths have finally crossed the line! "Midweek Midmorning" is more addictive than heroin and catchier than the flu and more blissful than ecstacy. It's one of the best love songs of the year, period. "Point Being" is more lovely jangle pop, and "Requiem for the Punters Club" is the best Cinerama song Gedge never wrote. Goes without saying that we're eager for their new album! Single of the week.   --Mundane Sounds (Single of the Week)

 

The song "Midweek Midmorning" is a horn-laden melodic blast about deciding what to do with your day--go outside? stay in? That might sound like a trvial topic, but the Lucksmiths' songs all about conveying the feelings that lurk behind everyday moments. "You beside and bluest skies above me/spring fashion week and don't we both look lovely," they sing with absolute glee, projecting the simple happiness of being outside on a nice day with a loved one at your side. What drives their songs besides a knack at capturing real-life is a skill at songcraft, at wrapping everything up in wonderful, tuneful packages. "Midweek Midmorning" is the album track on this 3-song single, a glimpse at their upcoming new album. The two B-sides are just as nice, especially the closing "Requiem for the Punters Club," which finds them in a quiet, nostalgic mood, thinking about lazy Sunday afternoons and good times spent in comfortable places with friends.   --Erasing Clouds

 

The Lucksmiths' Midweek Midmorning EP is a solid pop effort from a country known for its kangaroos and wild dogs. Unlike their countrymen the Vines, The Lucksmiths have eschewed American flavored alt-rock in favor of an original take on folksy storytelling. The Lucksmiths are a talented bunch; Tali (drums), Marty (guitar), and Mark (bass) all contribute vocals along with their respective instruments. In addition to the guitars and drums, the band also sprinkles harmonica and various brass (played by Craig Plinkton) here and there. Midweek Midmorning has been released in order to allay the masses until the release of the band's as yet untitled full-length sometime this spring. The title track starts off like a pleasant kick awake at 10 a.m.Wednesday: gently, but hard enough to snap you out of your dozing. With solid lyrics ("You beside / and bluer skies above me / Spring fashion week / and don't we both look lovely") and a catchy tune, the song definitely leaves the listener wanting more. Which is what you get in the form of two songs that won't be included on the Lucksmiths' soon to be released LP. "Point Being" is a upbeat ode to feeling a little out of step with the rest of the world. Accompanying this sentiment are handclaps, tambourine, and lines like, "Everyone was busy with their earnest plans / I was feeling dizzy with life's cold demands," that are simple and true. The third and final track is my personal favorite. "Requiem for the Punters Club," a love song for a local watering hole about to be torn down, captures perfectly the feelings of longing for days gone by and the need to go "Where everybody / knows you're drunk." Backing up The Lucksmiths is the Former Barmen's Choir. You can picture the group in a dingy pub right before the final last call singing, "So act surprised / It's been awhile since I came calling / I know it's late / but old times sake / and all that junk." The result is enough to make the toughest guy in the joint cry into their beer. While the most popular Australian musical exports at the moment seems hell-bent on recreating Seattle grunge, the Lucksmiths are decidely low-key. And they're refreshingly cheery. The short liner notes included with this EP are as witty as they are informative, and they include a picture of the band. Nary a flannel shirt is to be found, and they all have nice haircuts. Sound-wise, comparisons to Belle & Sebastian are sure to be drawn, but I personally think they sound a lot like an all male (Aussie) version of Heavenly, which is a good thing.   --Delusions of Adequacy

 

The Lucksmiths have mastered the ability to take a snapshot or everyday urban existence and present it as the most romantic notion conceivable. The kings of celebrating simple pleasures are back with another warm pop arrangement and a lyric about indulging the company of a loved one on a beautiful midweek midmorning. And moments into the tune, you're yearning to be right there. Two simply sweet b-sides,including Requiem For The Punters Club, complete the package.   --Inpress Magazine

 

I'm sure that there are some people out there who actually actively dislike the Lucksmiths, but I wonder what these people might be like. Maybe catchy, witty, breezy pop songs give them hives, or maybe an Australian guy who looked just like Tali White absconded with their girlfriends. Anything's possible, I suppose, but the fact remains that The Lucksmiths are just about the most compulsively likeable group in the entire world. Their songs are well-crafted, catchy as hell, witty and insightful; they have one of the most entertaining live shows around, and overall, they're just damn nice guys. So, here they are with the first single from their new, as-yet-untitled, yet-to-be-released album. And if these songs are any indication, we'll get pretty much what we expect from the band on that new record -- more well crafted, catchy as hell, witty, insightful pop tunes. "Midweek Midmorning" is the single, and it's a slice of pure, classic Lucksmiths, with Tali White extolling the virtues of sleeping in late in the middle of the week over Mark Monnone's bouncy bassline and Marty Donald's ever-jangling guitar. "A midweek midmorning to ourselves, it would be misspent somewhere else." The two non-album tracks here are equally strong, with "Point Being" resembling a slightly less fey (and much less Scottish) Belle & Sebastian, while the slow, languid "Requiem for the Punters' Club" is of a piece with other slow, languid Lucksmiths songs, such as "The Great Dividing Range" or "How to Tie a Tie". While this is certainly not as satisfying as the new full-length is bound to be, it's better than nothing, and certainly a treat for any and all Lucksmiths aficionados. And for those of you not tuned in to the wonders of this utterly charming Australian trio, here's a low-cost introduction to your new favorite band.   --Splendid

 

Three new songs from one of our favorite bands is always a good thing, and these are no exception. The title track, taken from their as-yet-unnamed forthcoming album, is a jangly number that actually sounds a bit different than usual. There is a second guitarist throughout this ep, Craig Pilkington (who has been collaborating with and recording the band for a few years now), giving the songs a more layered sound, and it works. I think this is one of the best songs they've done in a while. The two b-sides, "Point Being" & "Requiem For The Punters Club", are exclusive to this single; the former being another upbeat song and the latter being a slow tune lamenting the closure of one of the band's favorite clubs. Recommended, of course.   --IndiePages

 

Tools you can trust - The Lucksmiths and Matinée Records. This is so gorgeously melancholy, just so perfect in that way that it evokes a certain feeling...whether it be wasting hours with a loved one, or that actual midweek, midmorning feeling you used to get when you'd bunked off school and there was nothing on the telly apart from..umm..schools programmes. Add in a little brass to the title track and what you have is a fragile gem. Skipping on to track three, 'Requiem for the Punters Club' - which features one of the best opening gambits ever - 'Have you been drinking, cos it's not too late to start', and we see The Lucksmiths doing what they do better than anyone else at the moment, namely the torch song. It even features the most wonderful harmonica solo I've heard since 'Still Ill'. I love this band dearly, so should you.   --Tasty

 

Since I 'retired' from writing my fanzine every now and again a gem of a song would come to my attention and I'd think I would definitely have to write some words about it so maybe some other people would fall in love with it too, well this is one of them.....I know this record has been out for some time now but maybe there are still some folks in the world who have yet to have the pleasure of falling hook, line and sinker for the Lucksmiths ""requiem for the punters club" on Matinée. If your one of those poor unfortunate souls please think of this as a gentle push and shove in the direction of a love at first sight. I had heard some of the bands earlier released stuff on Matinée and if anyone was to tie me up and force me to pick one I would have to admit that the Lucksmiths were probably my favourite band on the label. The songs I had already heard brought images of singing on porches under dusty Australian sunsets into my mind the same way songs by the Sugargliders used to, I guess it's the sound of those gorgeous acoustic guitars and the way they sound so laidback, even on the faster songs. Well "requiem for the punters club" is like that too, starting kinda slowly with a tune that I actually remember wanting to sing the very first time I heard it even though I didn't have a clue what to sing. Sometimes I wish I could play harmonica especially something as sad and yearning as the harmonica solo in the middle of this . For me though the greatest part of the song is saved for the end where everyone joins in for a one of those inspirational singalongs, you know the type I mean?   --This Almighty Pop!

 

Releases between full length albums can be a blessing or a curse, either holding over die hard fans until the next larger collection or throwaway tracks that musicians have no business putting out. This trio of songs from another lovable pop-oriented Australian trio called The Lucksmiths joyously falls into the former collection. Resembling fellow label mates The Windmills as well as The Smiths to a certain extent, the title single starts things off. "You were never one for sleeping late/But the working week can wait," is the opening couplet over an engaging guitar and mid-tempo arrangement. It evolves from there with a faster beat and some well-placed horns courtesy of Craig Pilkington. "Point Being" is very melodic, consisting of handclaps, tambourine and acoustic strumming rooting the tune. The song's give and take harmonies are another plus, resembling The Housemartins in some respects. The closing song, which will be a non-album track, pays tribute to the watering hole the group have frequented often. "Requiem For the Punters Club" is a ballad of drowning sorrows and loneliness. The Beautiful South could do this in their sleep, but it doesn't negate the short but excellent amount of music presented.   --Pop Matters