Lucius - Wildewoman (The New Recordings) (Deluxe) (2024) Hi-Res

Wildewoman is the second studio album by Brooklyn indie pop band Lucius. It was released on PIAS Recordings, Mom + Pop Music and Dine Alone Records to mostly positive reviews, drawing numerous comparisons to the girl groups of the 1960s. Reviewers also praised the album's eclectic mix of musical styles, as well as the vocal performances of lead singers Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig. The album peaked at number 150 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Their first album for the Fantasy Records label after over a decade with Mom + Pop, Wildewoman (The New Recordings) sees Lucius completely re-record their Billboard 200-charting debut album. The redo was produced and mixed by bandmember Dan Molad, main producer of the original LP, with an eye toward taking liberties with some of the arrangements but for the most part making existing details "pop" -- and they do, often in technicolor fashion. At least, that was the approach to songs like the title track and airplay breakthrough "Turn It Around," which essentially remain loyal to the originals. To this end, the band brought back original member Andrew Burri to track The New Recordings with the remaining core foursome, although the 2024 edition also features a handful of guests on both instruments and vocals. And therein lies the key to which version individual fans may prefer. While these more vibrant revisions allow each component -- from vocal harmonies to nuanced percussion and from main ingredients to playful additives -- to be clearly discerned (not unlike, but to much greater effect than a noteworthy remaster), the singing guests can feel like intruders on well-worn tour favorites. The most conspicuous example of the latter is a duet-style version of bluesy belter "Go Home" with Marcus Mumford. A reworked "Tempest" featuring Devon Gilfillian serves as a lesser before-and-after contrast. An exception to this category of guest is the album's one previously unreleased song, "Housewarming" featuring Brandi Carlile, which, with no point of comparison, only sweetens the pot. At worst, Wildewoman (The New Recordings) is a good excuse to revisit an already colorful, effervescent album, and at best, the refresh adds enough spice and variation for some to embrace it as their new default.