Lovedrug
Pretend You're Alive The
Militia Group
By Natalie B. David

Usually a bad band name is a good indicator of a bad band.

Lovedrug is the exception.

The band's first full-length, Pretend You're Alive , makes a forceful impact, spanning the realms between indie rock, emo, and Radiohead in a solid amalgamation of sense and sound. Singer Michael Shepard's nasal vocals carry clever lyrics across the band's overall cinematic sound. Songs like "Blackout" and "Spiders" could be easily at home on the speakers accompanying a silver screen.

"RockNRoll," their most radio-friendly track, does exactly as it says. From the first line, "It's Tuesday and I already hit the bottle," you'll be hooked. Equally rocking, but less hook-y is "Pandamoranda." Dark, engaging and hectic, "Pandamoranda" stands out from the rest of the disc with its potent, demanding bassline.

The influence of Radiohead is most evident on "Down Towards the Healing." However unlike bands such as Muse who simply steal Radiohead's act, Lovedrug don't allow themselves to be hijacked by their influences. Alternately, the band draws from and incorporates elements into their own sound.

The title track has less energy than you may expect something called "Pretend You're Alive" to have. Instead the band focuses on feelings instead of energetic mania. Lyrically the song is an antidote to boredom. Shepard sings, "You're life's a song/ so sing along before the silence swallows you," with less force and more than enough passion to pull you along.

With a solid debut full length and a strong live show, Lovedrug are certainly set to go places. Catch their set with Noise Ratchet and the Working Title at the Masquerade on July 6. You won't be disappointed.