Given his penchant for body art and his association with locally based punk-heavy label Magic Bullet Records, one might expect a certain amount of crossover indie and hard-core influence from folk singer Austin Lucas on "Putting the Hammer Down," his North American debut.

The Indiana native, currently living in the Czech Republic, has previously released material in Europe and found it well-received. However, while "Hammer" is certain to be enjoyed by those fond of folk and country--as well as some fans of indie rock--it doesn't really come through with the expected genre-busting impact.

The first track, "Man Alive," arguably one of the best on the album, begins with guitar, banjo and fiddle in a style slightly reminiscent of that which is played in Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It feels like the perfect soundtrack to a Paul Bunyan tale.

On this track, Lucas sets a definite tone and precedent for what will follow. His voice is pleasant, but twangy in a way that makes enjoyment very subjective--a statement that can be made often for others in the genre.

Lyrics fraught with figurative language and description facilitate the easy creation of mental images, such as in the lines "My breath is a hammer/ My insides are taxed like an anvil." Though the melodic nature of each song draws the ear far more to the instrumentation than to such lyrics, it's definitely worth taking a small bit of forced concentration to focus on them instead.

Lucas's words are more poetic--and much less repetitive--than what one might expect from punk or hard-core music. He doesn't need to worry about "pumping up" the listener, and meanders around phrases fit for novels written in a clear voice, such as in "Bruiser": "I watched you poison yourself until blood soaked your lips my dear/ And over the years felt the gloom and decay" and "glamorous liver failure and collapsed veins."

The entirety of the LP follows in similar manner, appealing to much the same sensibilities. It only consists of eight tracks, but as each is over three minutes, with the average probably being slightly over four, it still comes out a solid 35 minutes in length.

Despite his lack of varied appeal, Lucas' proficiency at what he does warrants a listen from even the reluctant. Some might find themselves unexpectedly fond of folk when it is "done right" and comes from the guitar and voice of someone who, on the surface, appears to have punk influences.

Brinkley Sharpe

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