With
Jerry Harrison producing, fellow ex-
Modern Lover Ernie Brooks on bass, and
Television drummer Billy Ficca,
Gary Lucas has support from considerable talent on
The Ordeal of Civility. It's still very much
Lucas' record, however, from the rather incredibly varied songs and guitar playing to the less distinguished but amiable vocals. Not fitting into any category or trend, though he's certainly not mainstream,
Lucas gets into rather
Bowie-esque foreboding rock; whispered creepiness strongly reminiscent of some of
Leonard Cohen's bleaker work (on "Jedwabne"); a song ("Swamp T'ing") liberally echoing the chorus to
Run-D.M.C.'s rap classic "That's the Way It Is"; the kind of knotty, eccentric bluesy rock that makes you remember he played guitar for
Captain Beefheart (especially on "Hot and Cold Everything"); delicate picking on a haunting piece reminiscent of an English folk ballad ("Lady of Shalott"); and folk-blues with virtuosic rapid guitar ("Whirlygig"). There's more, too (like the faintly
Van Morrison-like soul-rock of "Climb the Highest Mountain," although
Lucas will never be confused with
Van the Man as a vocalist), but that gives you an idea of both how much ground is covered and how much it resists being pigeonholed. Critics might be tempted to wonder how this will find a commercial niche, even on college radio, but that's never seemed like something with which
Lucas is overly concerned. It's not game-changing, but it's versatile, gutsy alternative rock that's consistently likable, even when he tries to sing and play somewhat downbeat or ominous material. ~ Richie Unterberger