Hailing from Murfreesboro (yeah, try saying that while drunk) Tennessee, Glossary’s smooth southern rock leaves the listener in no doubt that they have arrived to heal the soul with an irresistible mix of funk, pedal steel guitar and punk. ‘Long Live All of Us’ is Glossary’s first record to officially be released in the UK, and after destroying Brixton’s Windmill during their debut London show, for this cult band, it is certain not to be their last.
If this mix of memphis soul and frenetic buzz sounds familiar, that may just be because Lucero’s Todd Beene doubles as Glossary’s guitar player and dual vocalist. Yet, while these two bands share a love of heart on your sleeve lyricism and southern rock, Glossary is firmly it’s own beast. Lead singer Joey Kneiser’s voice is instantly distinctive with a vulnerability that is touching, particularly on the slow burning ‘Cheap Wooden Cross’. ‘Long Live All of Us’ is a kaleidoscope of musical influences from the gospel tinged ‘Nothing Can Keep Me Away’ to shades of R n’ B on ‘Everything Comes Back’.
‘Long Live All of Us’ feels like an album lovingly crafted, a record that is suppose to be heard from start to finish without skipping tracks. In an age of short attention spans this does require patience, but the rewards are great. This is the perfect record to sit back and absorb, let the little things wash over you, from the carefully considered harmonies to the finger picked guitars, everything on ‘Long Live All of Us’ has been thought through with great attention to detail. The result is an album that is sonically scrumptious and gorgeously satisfying.
There is really very little here to fault, ‘Long Live All of Us’ is simply one of the best releases you’ll hear this year. Sure, if you’re a metalhead through and through, this may not sit well with you. If you want something more in your face and abrasive, this may not be your best bet (though that is not to say that songs like ‘When We Were Wicked’ don’t pack a punch). However, if your ears have been through the wars lately and you want a record that is as life affirming as it is refreshing, you won’t go wrong with ‘Long Live All of Us’.
CLARA CULLEN