Lutheran Heat - Hi Again LP

Pinata (2025)

Maybe you remember 2016?  Much of it is a blur to me in that way that it seems like it was yesterday and there isn't much of consequence to remember.  While at the same time it was nine years ago and well enough in the past to legitimately forget a lot of what happened because you're old now.  Once of the things I didn't forget about was the band Lutheran Heat.  Their album from that year, Louder From The Other Side, was one of my favorites.  And then they just kind of vanished.  Maybe not to the folks lucky enough to have them playing shows locally, but as far as a record releasing entity, that was the last I heard of them.

And here we are, nine years later.  Lutheran Heat is back with their new album, Hi Again.  Despite the length of time between records, this one picks up right where the other one left off.  Jangly guitar that drives the sounds forward in a way that's bouncy, catchy and the exact sort of thing that's helpful to listen to when you might need your spirits raised up a bit.  Whenever I listen to them, the band that comes to mind most often for me is Title Tracks.  Even though Lutheran Heat doesn't have a sound that's quite as frantic and the recording fidelity is significantly cleaner, there's still something about the two bands that strike me the same way and it's an energy that I wish more bands had.

Lutheran Heat is tight as all get out and the alternating female/male vocals create dynamic songs.  When those vocals combine into any of the album's memorable harmonies there's something textural that happens to the music that I'm having a difficult time describing (likely because I don't write particularly well).  But needless to say, these songs soar and I'm just loving every second of this record.

That brings me to my only complaint.  The seconds on this record.  There aren't nearly enough of them with only eight songs on the album.  Having 12 songs like their debut would have only made me love it more, but I'll take eight over none any day of the week.  

Lutheran Heat - Hi Again:
https://lutheranheat.bandcamp.com/album/hi-again