Lake Street Dive
Bad Self Portraits (Signature Sounds)Boston soul revivalists Lake Street Dive are technically proficient and refined to the point that it’s alarming. Sweet as the sticking points on their national, 2010 debut (“Don’t Make Me Hold Your Hand,” “Got Me Fooled”) and ensuing covers EP two years later (“Rich Girl,” “Faith,” “Let Me Roll It”) were, the New England Conservatory graduates appeared to be holding something back. Until now. February’s Bad Self Portraits polishes, buffs, and ups the oomph factor on 11 tracks that find guitars and organ keys emerging as the most prominent instruments on “Just Ask,” “Better Than,” and “Rabid Animal.” Elsewhere, LSD’s newfound chutzpah creates big hooks in the form of “Seventeen,” the KUTX-endorsed title track, and “Stop Your Crying,” which may remind locals of recently disbanded power-poppers Bobby Jealousy. Such growth helped the quartet land gigs on Ellen and The Colbert Report, but their earnestness and chops demanded that their vinyl be sent for a second pressing. (Sat., Bluebonnet stage, 9:15pm)
This article appears in April 11 • 2014.