Champagne, IL's Living Blue used to be called the Blackouts, and released two records under that name for the Chicago-area imprint Lucid. But somewhere the title of their second album became their band name, too, and the Living Blue resurfaces on Minty Fresh with Fire, Blood, Water. If you're familiar with "I Have Found Mine" and "Next Train" fr...

Champagne, IL's Living Blue used to be called the Blackouts, and released two records under that name for the Chicago-area imprint Lucid. But somewhere the title of their second album became their band name, too, and the Living Blue resurfaces on Minty Fresh with Fire, Blood, Water. If you're familiar with "I Have Found Mine" and "Next Train" from the album Living in Blue, then you'll recognize the sonics of Fire, Blood tracks like "State of Affairs" and "Murderous Youth," and "Serrated Friend." This is a band that suggests Mooney Suzuki as much as the late, great Material Issue, with songs that throb on heady '60s basslines, chaotic drums, and ragged guitars crossing indie rock with tones of the Zombies and Seeds. (There's also some sweetness and fake British accenting to Steve Ucherek's vocals, adding to the Jim Ellison allusion.) Fire, Blood, Water could use more dynamic stuff like "Greenthumb," the detached, 1980s-style "Tell Me Liza," or the simmering "Conquistador" to offset its batch of cranked-up, acid-squelch rockers, but as a record with one thing on its mind it's pretty solid. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide