Liam Lynch’s “Get Up on the Raft” – album review
Somewhere in the bowels of California lives Liam Lynch, my hero. An insomniac and artist, Lynch spends his time creating music, films, podcasts, and I figure anything else that pops into his brain. If you’re wondering, Lynch is my personal hero because he just does what he wants. He’s the one who helps me believe that, if you want to be something, just do it and you are.
But I’ve gotten a little ahead of myself, haven’t I? I should wait to shovel out praise only after I talk about Lynch’s new CD, Get Up on the Raft.
If you’re familiar with Lynch’s previous work, you’ll notice that this album is much more serious. This is a great departure from Fake Songs and Lynch’s hit “United States of Whatever.” Get Up on the Raft abandons the silly and fun attitude for a more personal tone, with songs like “Get Up on the Raft” and “Tracing the Shape,” which speak of growth and life experience. These songs have the ability to tweak your emotions and put you somewhere within the lyrics.
If you’ve listened to Lynch’s last album, How to be a Satellite, you’ll hear a continuation of the style in songs like “How to be a Satellite” in this album. There’s still energy in the sound, but it’s a bit more subdued in favor of a more personal experience.
My personal favorites on this album are “Exhibits” and “I’m not Ready.” Lynch channels a purer style of rock that bands like Tenacious D use like a punchline, but Lynch is very sincere. You can listen to samples of the songs on Amazon.com, and you can always see what Lynch is up to on www.liamlynch.net