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Album Details

• Artist: Living With Lions
• EP:
Dude Manor
• Label: Adeline
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2009-05-05

Hey, a band that learned from late period Huskers/Replacements is better than a band that learned nothing at all! In other words, Living with Lions flirt with greatness before settling into something a bit more radio-friendly, and thus watered down. 

Dude Manor kicks off with a tease: "Intro" is a wall of snotty hardcore riffage that signals a band totally about shred some old school punk...and they do, at least until the vocals come in on the second track. "Later is Better" often defaults to the pop-punk setting, which is disappointing. Even when the band is truly driving hard, Matt Postal's vocals keep it frustratingly safe. Even the more sloppy, drunken odes like "Mark Has Bedroom Eyes" or "A Noisy Noise Annoys The Boys" are saved rather than propelled by guitarist Chase Brenneman and bassist Shayne Lundberg.

So "Dude Manor" is a quick, fun listen, as an EP should be. It does not, as an EP should also do, whet your appetite for more. As much as Living With Lions show that they have cool tastes in music, their own reeks of some less adventurous, all too common influences.

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