Track Listing

1. Lovedust
2. Weird and Woozy
3. Black Postcards
4. Black Champagne
5. Swedish Fish
6. Renée Is Crying
7. Mermaid Eyes
8. 1995
9. Rememories
10. Dizzy
11. Orange Peel
12. Romantica

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108020 in Music
• Released on: 2002-04-23
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
2002 release on Jetset. 12 tracks including 'Lovedust' & 'Weird & Woozy'.

Amazon.com
You've got to credit Dean Wareham--he knows what he does best. On Luna's sixth studio album, the former Galaxie 500 singer-songwriter continues to mine inspiration from the same triumvirate of moody guitar bands he has always coveted: Television, the Velvet Underground, and the Soft Machine. But it's hard to complain when the results are as engaging and euphoric as Romantica. Buoyed by chiming chords, sweeping melodies, and that distinctive soft-focus voice, songs like "Black Champagne" and "Rememories" are among some of his finest compositions to date. On the latter, Wareham sings, "It's been a long long long..." But with him, the journey has rarely been dull. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews

A warm and fuzzy Luna
I should preface my review by noting that I have been totally enamored with Luna since I saw the Slash Your Tires video very late at night on MTV in 1992 - they could cover a Barry Manilow album and I would give it 4 stars.

That being said, Romantica is simply beautiful. As good as their finest - 1997's Penthouse? I'm not sure that one is better than the other. Romantica's songs, with a few exceptions, are simpler, lighter, more infectious and perhaps more accessible than previous Luna offerings. They've stripped away a few layers without losing their celestial sound and the result is pop perfection on songs like Lovedust, Renee is Crying, Mermaid Eyes and Black Postcards. 1995 rocks out like no Luna song has done before. Britta Phillips is a welcome addition and complements Dean's voice well, and Dean finally sounds completely comfortable with his unique voice. The clever, wry and sometimes goofy lyrics (I could look at your face for oodles and oodles) and virtuoso guitars are still there, but there's a sentimentality and tenderness that was previously absent (although I never realized it was missing). It's good to know the best band around still has a few aces up their sleeve. Buy it and enjoy!

Classic
This is an awesome album. I have only recently begun listening to Luna, but I fell in love with this band right away. Romantica is consistently beautiful. From bittersweet pop ballads to classic guitar-based tunes, Luna delivers sumptuous, addictive melodies. Rarely does an album deliver 3 good songs, but this one has at least 6-7 solid tracks. My peronal favorites include the irresistible, tranquil "Mermaid Eyes," and mellow "Black Champagne," as well as the playfulness of "1995." With minimalist lyrics and simple, harmonious rock, Luna creates a perfect album.

good, but they can (and will) do better...
No, Luna will never be The Velvet Underground. For one thing, they wear their influences too lightly to really sound like the Velvets (or anybody else). Which doesn't mean they aren't capable of greatness, as their 1995 release "Penthouse" effortlessly demonstrated. "Romantica" is similarly well-crafted, with whimsical lyric touches that still make me smile after repeated spins. New bass player/singer Britta Phillips adds a pragmatic counterpoint to her duets with Dean Wearham that perfectly balances his goofy romanticism. And the guitar work is, as always, without peer in alt rock.

If it sounds like I like this record, I DO! The problem is that I can't quite love it. For one thing, it sounds exhausted at times (try "Rememories," which is lovely but sooo sloooow). And just when you expect the guitars to soar--as on the luminous "Black Champagne" (my fave cut)--somebody hits the fader! In fact, all through the disc you can hear Luna chaffing against what must have been a pretty tight recording schedule.

If you're a Luna fan, you already own "Romantica." If you're just discovering them, start with "Penthouse," but buy this one, too. Hopefully, they'll sell enough copies of both to finance more recording time on the next album! Could be a great one.