the Last Lala's

iTunes Review

A thoughtful, slightly woozy spirit pervades The Last Lala’s, the debut album by everyBoy (a.k.a. New York singer/songwriter Bruce Nathan). A Buddhist sense of acceptance is paired with romantic angst in these scruffy yet insightful folk-rock tunes. EveryBoy’s vocals bring early Neil Young and Jeff Tweedy to mind, as does his confessional lyric style. His tunes are given spark by an able backup group featuring such notables as Wallflowers guitarist Ben Peeler and Ben Harper bassist Tom Freund. “Let It Go,” “Life is 4 Living” and “Reset” are bohemian anthems driven home by gleaming mandolins and rumbling congas. The alcohol-stained regrets of “Another Love (Tanqueray)” are matched with the positive tone of “Thank You Pachelbel.” EveryBoy gets into some goofy garage rock in “Chinese Wine” and adds classic soul stylings to his mix in “Keep On Keepin On.” If there’s a core statement here, it’s “Unturn Every Stone,” a quietly intense declaration of purpose. The Last Lala’s is a quirky, charming offering that both catches the ear and pokes at the mind.