Vintage and Vogue Squalls*

More than anything, I think, When U Gonna Luv Somebody, the debut album from Charlie the Horse, is the sound of a young band having fun. The way the band harmonizes, the raucous background noises, and the, well, smiles you hear through the music, tend to dominate the feeling of the record.

Displaying a talent beyond their years, the sound on When U Gonna Luv Somebody is often ramshackle yet always intentional and intricate. The banjo and horn on Up and Down Ladies add layers to an already clever love song. Despite the seemingly precocious vocals, lead singer Andrew Zucchino is not without humility in his tribute to the lady in question—explaining to her that “I follow shiny things/ because I’m young.” A better and more simple way to explain dalliances I have not heard (if that’s in fact what this is).



The texture of Hey Girl is different from the rest of the album—the vocals are secondary, playing background music to the piano that leads the way. For young bands, crafting this elaborate sound without cluttering everything else seems to be one of the most difficult propositions in making a record. Yet, here, Charlie the Horse is able to layer all of their sounds and still keep them distinct. It’s an example other fledgling bands would do well to follow.

It also helps, of course, that the distinct sounds are ones you would actually want to hear. The guitar work on Thunderstorm is reminiscent of some of the Black Keys’ best work (not to mention some Built to Spill-esque tremors on Go! Run! Hide! Run!), and Hey Boy starts off with a bass line and organ pulled from the Allman’s Whipping Post.

The real standout though, is Fever. Everything is present here—great vocal harmonies, Zucchino’s emotions on his sleeve, perfect light and airy guitar—and again the overwhelming sense that the band works well together, has fun, and is producing great music. Damn. It’s understated yet overpowering all at once—a sign that the underlying elements are so strong they don’t have to be shouted or turned to 11.



There’s a moment at the end of the first song and title track where you hear someone fiddling with a radio dial, and finally settling on something. Intentional or not, it’s a nice metaphor for the album. There’s a lot going on here, especially considering there are only eight tracks on When U Gonna Luv Somebody. It’s the rare debut album that both promises much for the future and delivers plenty for the present.

*In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve known lead singer Andrew Zucchino since he was a child. (I think) his older brother and I got him drunk for the first time by leaving jello shots in his fridge which he unknowingly ate. That said, I think this caused me to be even more careful with my words than usual. In short, I wholeheartedly believe everything I wrote above. Luckily, Andrew made this easy on me by making a kick-ass record. We’ll do an interview later this week and hear more. Congrats dude.