Local H frontman Scott Lucas takes a page from singer-songwriters Bob Dylan and Neil Young for his debut George Lassos the Moon with his new group the Married Men and comes out a winner.

I called Scott Lucas the last angry man in my Top Ten of the Decade list, but it appears that even angry men can mellow out sometimes.

George Lassos the Moon, the title a reference to the film It’s a Wonderful Life, is a risk for Lucas. He is widely known for his work with the hard rock duo Local H where he made a career out of being an untamable, macho loner for the last 15+ years. Take a look at any of that band’s six albums and there is guaranteed to be a track devoted to Lucas’ distaste for either people in love (“Lovey Dovey” from 1996’s As Good as Dead), settling down (“(Baby Wants to) Tame Me” from 2000’s Here Comes the Zoo) or allowing anyone the satisfaction of breaking his heart (“Michelle (Again)” from 2008’s 12 Angry Months).

Nearing 40, Lucas is telling the world that he is ready to accept all that comes with being hopelessly in love and because of this George Lassos the Moon is his most raw and introspective work to date because he had nothing else to lose.

The songs on George Lassos the Moon weren’t always meant for public consumption. Lucas crafted each composition and emailed them to his ex-girlfriend during a year-long separation.

Lucas allows his lyrics to shine prominently by choosing a more stripped down, almost lounge-like at times, sound. Lucas puts his heart on his sleeve, track after track, admitting his faults in a tremendous effort to win back the one woman who got away. “I fucked up the day I let you go” Lucas sings on the album’s second track “You Put a Spell on Me.”

Lucas indulges in his folkier, almost country, side on George Lassos the Moon with plenty of help from slide guitar (Pete Muschong), horns and strings (Rebecca Brooke Manthe); he even croons instead of growls. This side of Lucas has always been there, surfacing in a gentle ballad or two on each Local H album, but it was always smothered by the songs’ louder, faster brethren.

The album’s lead single, “Extra Special Bitter,” is a bluesy 70’s rock inspired number reminiscent of Neil Young (with Crazy Horse) that brings the heavy, along with an excellent cover of Bob Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street,” on an album of otherwise lighter fare.

“Weatherman” is by far the best track not just on the album, but of Lucas’ entire career to date. The emotion contained within is slowly built upon until it erupts with Lucas gently yelling the chorus until the song’s end. The lyrics paint a beautifully sad portrait of a ruined winter to convey the hurt Lucas caused.

From the dreamy “Stolen Umbrellas” to the haunting “Last One,” Lucas’ risk paid off because he wrote an album full of love songs that aren’t sappy enough to leave the listener in a diabetic coma. By the album’s end, the listener can’t help but root for the guy. George Lassos the Moon may be the beginning of a new stylistic direction for Lucas, but if the album is any indication, this isn’t necessarily a terrible thing.

Check out this clip of Scott Lucas and the Married Men in the studio, recording “Stolen Umbrellas.”

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Catch Scott Lucas and the Married Men perform at a free in-store at Reckless Records, 1532 N Milwaukee, on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. They will also hold their record release party later that day at Schubas at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10/$12 day of and the show is 21+. Buy tickets at Schubas.com for only $12.
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