A Picture of the Eighth Wonder

Description

A Picture of the Eighth Wonder is the third full-length album by the American alternative rock band Poor Old Lu, released on Alarma Records in ‎1996, a division of Frontline Music Group, distributed by Benson Music Distribution. The album was recorded by band member Aaron Sprinkle at Avast! Recording Co., Seattle, Washington; with the band producing. Mixed by Gene Eugene of Adam Again fame at Stepping Stone Recording in Seattle.

A Picture of the Eighth Wonder turned out to be the last studio album of the 1990s by Poor Old Lu. (The band later reformed briefly to record and release a final full-length album in 2002, The Waiting Room.) Thus band members Aaron Sprinkle and Nick Barber formed Rose Blossom Punch which released a full-length album in 1997, entitled Ephemere. Jesse Sprinkle formed The World Inside which released the full-length album Roobrik in 1999, the same year Aaron Sprinkle started his solo career.

There is a rather interesting blend of styles on this self-produced album by that strangely named foursome from Seattle whom. I’m reliably informed, have now disbanded. The songs tend to loiter (perhaps with intent) somewhere between The Manic Street Preachers, All About Eve and DC Talk, making this a rather large and radio friendly album. There is a slightly organic feel to the recording which seems to enhance the song style and the ‘feel’ of the album as a whole but does tend to make the tracks sound quite similar to each other. This, however, docs seem to enhance the uniqueness of Poor Old Lu’s sound. Below the surface of the band’s eclectic-grunge soundscapes. lies a depth of lyric which effortlessly plummet depths to which most CCM docs not boldly go. check out the opening cut «Rail» or the thought provoking «The Weeds That Grow Under My Feet» to see what I mean. On first hearing. I wasn’t hugely taken with this CD (those who know what I do for a living can guess at my reasons) but as I listened further, I found that it grew on me quite quickly and I just couldn’t seem to stop my hand reaching for the play button on my CD player. A loud and lovely grungelastic collection of very interesting songs. [Tim Roberts, Cross Rhythms, August 1997]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-picture-of-the-eighth-wonder/389421624)

CD tracklist:

01. Rail – 7:17
02. Receive – 3:28
03. A Better Me – 3:18
04. What If Uncle Ben Had Lived? – 6:08
05. Joy I Had Was Joy I Sold – 2:19
06. Chance For The Chancers – 4:09
07. The Weeds That Grow Around My Feet – 4:48
08. Enough – 3:37
09. Hello Sunny Weather – 4:39
10. Closing Down – 5:13

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma Records.

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