The eccentric and intricate musicianship of an elusive frontman makes 'The La's' one of the most intriguing albums of the late 20th century.
After numerous line-up changes, a multitude of different producers and years of recording; Lee Mavers' brainchild is a magical masterpiece that stands the test of time and should be revered as one of the best records of the 1990s.
However, Mavers' pedantic nature was simultaneously a blessing and a curse. His erratic persona being what pushed The La's into the limelight whilst also being the catalyst for their eventual downfall.
Stories of the Liverpool-born musician's eccentricities would later become folklore in the indie music scene. Rumours of tuning his guitar to the hum of a fridge and refusing to use a soundboard at the famous 'Abbey Road Studios' due it not being covered in genuine sixties' dust cement Mavers as being one of the most interesting musicians in the UK indie scene.
The album itself instantly grabs the listeners attention with the opening track 'Son of A Gun', that has a guitar riff that is as complex as it is infectious. The lyricism could possibly be an almost autobiographical piece from Mavers, with 'a man who's at loggersheads with his past all the time' and who was 'burnt by the 20th century'.
The single 'Feelin' brings a rockabilly style sound to the album that will undoubtedly bring anyone out of a bad mood but also not overstaying it's welcome with the track lasting just under two minutes.
Most tracks on this record are rather brisk, pop infused classics that are bound to get stuck in your head. Songs such as 'Way Out' and 'Failure' tackle heavy topics such as the ending of a relationship with a significant other and being alienated from family members but do so in a way that is easily accessible to listen to and process.
Lead single 'There She Goes' is an everlasting classic that fully deserves all the praise that it gets. The original release of the song was not successful with it peaking at 59 in charts before being re-released in 1990 where it reached number 13.
Mavers would showcase his versatility throughout the record, going back to basics with tracks such as 'Doledrum' and 'Liberty Ship' that both emulate a skiffle sound which was a genre that originated in the band's home city of Liverpool.
'Timeless Melody' oozes with nostalgia and shines above almost every other song on the album. Mavers possibly reminiscing on the music he listened to in his adolescence and his lifelong mission to replicate it.
The closing track 'Looking Glass' is an earnest masterpiece that is an unstoppable, emotional rollercoaster for the entirety of it's run-time. The track overall is possibly an honest self reflection on his weathered outlook on the world with themes of child-like loneliness and isolation being touched upon. Bass guitarist John Power would eventually take inspiration from this song, naming his band 'Cast' after the last lyric uttered by Mavers.
The album is an absolute masterpiece but could potentially leave listeners with a bitter taste in their mouth with Mavers never building upon this beautifully-crafted record. Mavers would eventually disown the album, with the only other snippets of his genius being a number of bootlegs that were released throughout the 1990s.
The lack of content leaves us with one of the biggest questions in music. What if The La's were able to build upon their eponymous debut album and release another?
Rating: 10/10