The Lovemakers debut disappoints listeners

By Angela O’Brien
Daily 49er
Contributing Writer


Two and a half decades ago, catchy hooks and dance hits of the new wave genre ruled the air waves. The Lovemakers, hailing straight out of Oakland, attempt to shallowly recreate an ’80s dance revival with their debut album “Times of Romance.”

The group consists of former couple and vocalists Lisa Light (violin and bass) and Scott Blonde (guitar) with Josh Kilbourne on drums. One would never guess those were the key instruments comprising the band. The trio sounds as if keyboards and synthesizers corrupted their musical integrity.

The entire album shrewdly tries to tell the story depicting the breakup between Light and Blonde. Listeners are not impressed.
After reading rumors of the band’s originality from various publications, high hopes of brilliance set this album for a slow, awkward tumble down a hill. By track two,”“Is It Alright?” the answer to that question was obviously no.

As the disc progressed, one could forget that they are even listening to a futile affair of music. The tracks bore its listeners by blending into one 50-minute dance monotony of the singers’ convoluted-and trivial-breakup. A change in singer is the only indication to the listener that a new song has started.

Lines from the song “Set Me Free,” not only show the groups lack of basic English, but it is utterly apparent this couple has not freed themselves from issues that listeners do not care about (“You don’t pay no rent and I don’t get no action/And you still wear all my clothes”).

The so-called “ballads” on the album are unnatural slower versions of the previous up-tempo songs. Light’s annoying whimpers throughout the song "
Hypnotized” are enough to bring frustration and offense to any listener. Their relationship was bad. Their break-up was worse. The audience gets it.

The most entertaining song on the album is “Shake That Ass.” Listeners can not help but tap their toes to Light’s memorable chorus of “You can have my love/Take my body/You can have anything you want if you / shake that ass for me.”

The Lovemakers would fit perfectly as the background ambiance in a crowded night0club, however does not belong in the CD player of a jaded lover of musical talent.

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