Sin

Description

Sin is the sophomore album by the American alternative rock band Poor Old Lu, released on Alarma Records in ‎1994, a division of Frontline Music Group, distributed by Diamante Distribution. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by John Goodmanson with the band co-producing.

POL’s 1993 debut was as impressive for the age of the members (all were teens when it was recorded) as the musical content. With two members now at the ripe age of 20, you might not think of them as “seasoned”, but ‘Sin’ is an astoundingly mature follow-up. Although it’s often been lumped in with the grunge approach of its mainstream Seattle compadres, POL’s music is bubbling with an underlying current of ’60s psychedelic pop; this makes the band accessible while still giving the music an aggressive edge. The album is appropriately titled, for nearly all the tracks deal with the subject of sin. Lead singer/lyricist Scott Hunter takes an unvarnished look at his own transgressions, as well as provoking listeners to examine their faults in the light of Christ’s grace. Hunter is remarkably self-aware without being self-absorbed, giving extra weight to simple phrases like “My strength is dead, I hope instead/ On every word He’s said” and “this is how I’ll let it go/ Saviour save me from what I know (what do I know?).” Exceptional lyrics, creative arrangements and genuine enthusiasm mark POL as one of the best bands (new or veteran) in Christian music. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, December 1994]

Chris Estey’s Esoteric List of Top 5 Christian Grunge Era Releases

This list would not be complete without a Seattle band from the original crossover era on it, and while Poor Old Lu was only occasionally described by grunge fans as grunge music, they fit into the scene. Think if someone described the band Ride as “shoegaze.” Not on the nose, but close enough in geography and contemporary inspirations. They started in the late alternative era and had a delightful sound harkening back to Echo & the Bunnymen and their true loves, The Cure, throttled along by post-punk bass playing from Nick Barber and eventual Demon Hunter drummer Jesse Sprinkle (Demon Hunter are a later period T&N metal band many grunge fans probably enjoy for their sound dynamics). But Scott Hunter’s voice certainly changed along with the times, harshening into his ache and weariness on this second album, as guitarist Aaron Sprinkle added a poppier and funkier zest many fellow bands in the scenes did not have. Adored for both their strength and sensitivities, sophomore release Sin is an essential from back in the day. [Chris Estey, April 2024]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/sin-remastered/389412373)

CD tracklist:

01. Complain – 3:57
02. Bones Are Breaking – 2:33
03. My World Falls Down – 3:36
04. Slow – 3:32
05. I Am No Good – 4:00
06. Thoughtless – 3:25
07. Hope For Always – 3:09
08. Where Were All Of You – 4:06
09. Bliss Is – 2:34
10. Cannon-Fire Orange – 2:16
11. Ring True – 4:37
12. Sickly – 5:32
13. Come To Me – 1:41
14. Necklace – 0:33

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma Records. As well released on 12-inch vinyl LP. Remastered and re-issued as Sin (Deluxe Remaster) by Lo-Fidelity ‎Records in December 2020 through a Kickstarter campaign, shipped out during 2021. Released on both CD (comes in a 6 panel deluxe digipak with art restored from the original photo shoots, including a two sided lyric/photo poster, and multiple bonus tracks – Limited Edition pressing of 300 copies) and 180g 12-inch vinyl double LP (Limited Edition pressing of 500 copies, 100 for each color – Black, Pink/Blue, Pinwheel, Splatter, Pink). The vinyl was remastered from the original tapes by Levi Seitz at Black Belt Mastering and contains extensive bonus material from the Sin era. A SIN Lyric & Photo Book was also published. Available at Bandcamp: https://pooroldlu.bandcamp.com/album/sin-deluxe-remaster

SIN Lyric & Photo Book, Lo-Fidelity ‎Records 2020. (This is an 8.5″x8.5″ re-press of the “SIN” lyric and photo book that was offered during the “SIN” Kickstarter campaign. 20 pages of original lyrics, photos, expanded liner notes and ephemera, pulled straight from the notebooks and mind of Scott Hunter.)