What They're Saying About"WE LOVE NICK"![]()
ROOTED (Austin, TX) - In the world of pop-punk rock of the 1990s, names like Kim Shattuck (the Muffs) and Kim Deal (the Amps, ex-Pixies/Breeders) reign atop a stack of bands that still explore what's truly alternative about rock music. Shattuck's Ramones-ala-Beach Boys influences give way to the Muffs' sticky, bittersweet sound. Deal, while playing bass/vocals for alt-rock pioneers the Pixies and her phenomenal work on the Breeders' Last Splash album, revolutionized women's roll in rock: the roll of a band's sexpot to a master producer and musician. To say that punk music (in general) has not grown in the last five years would be a huge understatement. The ladies are revolutionizing rock with change. It's sorry to say guy-bands like Face To Face and NOFX, although putting out a terrific amount music, have changed little since their rise through the ranks of modern college radio market. Now it seems rock 'n roll is for us old-timers, the twenty-somethings (and soon to be thirty-somethings) of America. Let Ohio's Real Lulu help you cast away your walker and Geritol.
MUZIKMAN - When is the last time you got in the car, threw in a punk-rock cd and blared it all the way to work? I just did it this morning. What a wake up call. Two gals with a lot of spunk and one dude that can wail the skins. Welcome to the real deal, Real Lulu. Yeah it's a real lulu, that's right. It's refreshing to hear the angst and screaming guitars of punk-rock ringing in my ears.
INK 19 - This debut CD from the Dayton, Ohio trio Real Lulu is immensely likable female-vocal punky rock. Or rocky punk. Either way, it's great. Straightforward stuff, guitar-bass-drums, with gals on the stringed instruments and on the lead and backing vocals. Some may hear a similarity to one of the Deal sisters' various bands (Kim actually produced a track, which they put out as a single while working on the CD), or maybe a rougher-edged Veruca Salt (what with the dual female vocals). Whatever, it's good, find it, buy it. - Brian Kruge
CINCINNATI CITYBEAT - The debut full-length from Dayton's Real Lulu is in stores now. On "We Love Nick", [they] are in vibrant form, pulsating a certain sonic bounce and glee that's more of a cynical smirk than giddy spouting. For geographical reasons - and because Kim Deal produced the band's single "Hell", which appears here - the group is certain to remind one of The Breeders. But, as they show all over "We Love Nick", Real Lulu isn't just another Veruca Salt wannabe band. "We Love Nick" shows a band with a solid identity - unlike so many of it's peers.
ALL-MUSIC GUIDE - We Love Nick earned Real Lulu comparisons to the Breeders (whose Kim Deal produced the track "Hell") and Veruca Salt, and in truth they lie closer to the latter, since their song structures are more straightforward and pop-oriented. Still, there are plenty of rough edges to their sound, giving the record an infectious immediacy. - Steve Huey
COLLEGE RADIO MUSIC REVIEW - Real Lulu is a Dayton power trio girl group with male drummers, with five changes of drummers during the recording of this album (at three different studios). Innovative, honest raw sound. "Hell" sounds like the best of the GoGo's but with more intensity, integrity, and intelligence. I also felt a hint of the Waitresses ("We Know What Boys Like"). "Time" is reminiscent of
Lita Ford’s hard-rocking energy... I love the angry pottymouth lyrics
of "Dangle." There's a lot of material deserving of airplay, but begin with
the above-referenced tracks. - Brian Boyer
MUTANT RENEGADE - Real Lulu is in my opinion one of the best bands to ever come out of Dayton. This CD has six different drummers on it. No, they aren't Spinal Tap, even with the death's of both Ben and Timmy. Kattie and Sharon are just two really great people who have been involved in the scene for quite awhile and everybody wanted to help out. The drummers have been in a number of local bands and most play different instruments in other bands. These include Jim Macpherson (The Breeders, Raging Mantras/Killjoys, Guided By Voices, The Amps and current Real Lulu drummer), Gregg Spence (The Mulchmen, Cage, The Underdogs), Steve Johnson (The Pure Plastic Tree), Ben Schelker (The Oxymorons, Candyass, The Underdogs), Tim Taylor (Brainiac, The Wizbangs) and Matt Espy (Cage, Mink, Walaroo South). Kim Deal even got into the act by helping produce the song "Hell".
KATHODE RAY MUSIC - Real Lulu is an two-woman, one-man, high-energy rock band based in Ohio. "We Love Nick" is their 14-song debut album and shows the group's ability to seemingly mix catchy, melodic vocal hooks with emotional vocal delivery and strong musicianship. The disc is highlighted by the Kim Deal produced "Hell" (also available on 7" b/w a non-CD track) and "You," an extremely catchy tribute to an anonymous personage, but the disc is full of great songs that won't make you want to skip to the next track.
OUTSIGHT - This post-punk riff-rock band consists of is visited by such all-stars as drummers Jim Macpherson (The Breeders/The Amps), Steve Johnson (The Pure Plastic Tree), Matt Espy (Cage/Mink), and Tim Taylor (Brainiac)... They got hooks and Kim Deal noticed them enough to produce their debut single, "Hell" (present and accounted for here). The real face of the music, though, is the shared vocal duties of songwriters Kattie Doughtery (guitar) and Sharon Gavlick (bass). The music is bouncy and fun, reminding me of the female-voiced Avengers ( "Has the Feeling Got to You Yet" ), and mostly about those capricious men.
COSMIK DEBRIS - Real Lulu is Kattie Dougherty (guitar, vocals), Sharon Gavlick (bass,
vocals) and Gregg Spence (drums), though Spence only appears on seven of
the fourteen cuts on this CD, with five other drummers mounting the
throne for a cut or two apiece. There's also reference to yet another
drummer who has done live work with the band. I can only assume that
Dayton, Ohio is in the running for drum capitol of the known universe.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN - This outfit from Dayton, Ohio boasts a big ol' boomy sound, perfectly hummable choruses, and three whip-smart members... I'll also hazard that they're about the best pop band I've heard since the last best pop I'd heard since etc. Just the right balance of growl and glimmer: "Pushed" is a perfect punk cant; "Smoking You Away" gnashes along as a not-so-heavy-metal-meets-Sonic Youth anti-love anthem. Tempos vary from mid- to full-throttle, vocals from soft to atonal. I love 'em while they're on; I might even miss 'em when they're gone. - Neva Chonin
INDIE STREET - Following the fabulous punch-pop single "Hell", Dayton's Real Lulu have released their debut full-length. With fourteen tracks, Real Lulu have the opportunity to venture into different emotions and styles, which they do. From the opening track of "Let Me" (The Breeders meet Joan Jett), they get things started on the right foot. Of course, there's punchy good times on cuts like "You", "Mary's Cry" and "Dangle", but other album tracks make this more than just another punk-pop album. The hillbilly beat (mixed with fuzz guitar jabs) of "I Mind" is good ol' silly fun. "Smoking You Away" has some great power rock swirls. Keeping with the fuzz, a bit of drone adds to "Coal Black Hair". For something even darker (but with an upbeat punch), "Time" grooves. The six-minute epic dirge "Throwing God Out With The Bathwater/Nightly" is way cool. For a debut album, Real Lulu pull all the right punches. Definately worth a listen.
THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS - Make no mistake, Real Lulu's beginnings may have been somewhat casual, but the Dayton-based alternative trio has always been serious when it comes to making music.And now, with the release of the band's debut CD, "We Love Nick", Real Lulu's fate is sealed - it's a real band with a real album that's real good.
GAJOOB - Combining influences ranging from X, B-52's, Go-Go's, Hole, Runaways, the Real Lulu sound is a raw, garage-powered quasi-retro slap with a come-tither smile. - Bryan Baker
LUNA MUSIC NEWSLETTER - The band is Real Lulu and they rock! Our friends from Day-town, along with a host of luminaries; Jim Macpherson (Amps, Breeders), Timmy Taylor (Brainiac), Matt Espy (Lisa Loeb's roadie), have put together the record Veruca Salt wishes they had recorded! This is a must have.
THE DAYTON VOICE - "We Love Nick" is the debut release from Real Lulu on Dayton's own Big Beef Records. The 14-song CD is a heady garage rock blend with great girl group vocal interplay between guitarist Kattie Dougherty and bassist Sharon Gavlick, driving rhythms, biting guitar and piercing screams.
SCREED - Kattie Dougherty has plugged her guitar in, and cranked up the volume knob all the way to eleven... I am a sucker for their tried and true grrrl rocker style that was born in the late '70's in London and NYC... Nice mix and production by the band and Big Beef Record honcho Andy Valeri make this a release that I am very happy to recommend. - Terry Burke
ROCKTOBER - Made me feel mighty real!
*Read More About Real Lulu In MOO Magazine |