Elektra / Ada
1993
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About This Album
No more "Luna 2" -- they settled the legal question, and are now a quartet with the addition of second guitarist Sean Eden. The first release as "Luna" is the opening track from Lunapark backed with five non-LP tracks: three interestingly chosen covers, one new original ("Rollercoaster"), and a stripped-down demo of the album's "Hey Sister." These last two recall the feel of leader/guitarist Dean Wareham's solo single for the Number 6 label, and indeed may date back from those sessions. Both are good, if nothing special. No, the covers are what make this a steal: "Indian Summer" is less precious than Beat Happening's original (for one thing, Wareham's singing is more natural) without sacrificing BH's charm, and Luna add some especially tasty guitar soloing (without wank-itus) by Eden and Wareham for a few minutes after the singing concludes. Lou Reed and John Cale's "Ride into the Sun" is perhaps a little too obvious; Wareham has been plagued by Velvets comparisons since his days in Galaxie 500, and this just adds some weight to that tenable perception. Without differing strongly from the original arrangement, this sounds like any other Luna original! Still, the way it goes from ultra-gentility into another nice, guitar-crackling instrumental break is effective.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3 and 4)

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