Luke Doucet

Broken (And Other Rogue States) – (Six Shooter)

Broken, indeed.

Luke Doucet’s latest is all about tales of alcohol-soaked mourning over lost love, with even the cover shot of Doucet lying in his bathtub fully clothed being enough to make you want to call him and beg that he seek help.  Then again, that could be the intent here for Doucet, with Broken (And Other Rogue States) being an exercise in self-therapy.

So why doesn’t Broken sound like other excursions into similar territory?  Why isn’t there a point where you just want to shout out “Get over it, fer chrissakes!”?  In fact, Broken is a pretty damn great record and while Doucet sticks with one theme here pretty much, his eloquence and musical smarts gives each little bit o’ heartbreak its own distinct character.

This isn’t a “downer” record in the “modern” sense of the word.  Doucet’s songs aren’t shrouded in minimalist plodding arrangements – the tired metaphor of isolation requiring the absence of a full band or an adventurous musical spirit.  Hence, while we get a song like “Brother” with it’s appropriate spaghetti-western delivery (and a blazing guitar from Doucet, by the way), there’s a bit of tuneful country around the corner in “Broken One” and chamber-styled folk in “No Love To Be Made Here Now”.

Doucet’s lays it bare here, blatantly stating in “One Too Many” that “It takes a uniquely fucked up man to break his own heart” – you can’t get much honest than that.  When you combine such sentiments with the Latin flavour of “Emily Please” or the pure pop of “It’s Not The Liquor I Miss”, you appreciate that Doucet has risen to the challenge of making Broken as “entertaining” as possible. 

 
After all, that’s why people buy records and that’s why Broken will have a healthy longevity for many listeners (hearts broken or not).

8.0