Lucas Lee – ‘Lowered Expectations’ (2018)

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California-based multi-instrumentalist Lucas Lee returns with the interestingly titled Lowered Expectations. Lee again handles guitar, bass keyboards and assorted odd instruments in the progressive rock offering. He also calls on the mighty Marco Minnemann, who also provided his drum input on Lee’s last release, 2017’s Acceptance of Gravitational Collapsing Manifestations.

Lowered Expectations initially seems a little less dark than its predecessor. That doesn’t mean that Lee in in way skipped big musical concepts. As with both its predecessor and his 2013 release Normalcy Bias, there are instantly acceptable elements in Lucas Lee’s all-instrumental compositions.

The album-opening “Marginalized,” for all its contrast of tempos and musical shades, is immediately engaging. Intended to showcase the contrast between those who exceeds expectations and those who don’t, the song is a fantastic listen. Lee’s rhythm guitar bounces off Minnemann’s snare drums, while the track moves up and down a frantic slope of shifts. Lee’s lead guitar playing recalls Steve Howe’s work on his Turbulence solo album.

[SOMETHING ELSE! INTERVIEW: Prog rocker Lucas Lee joins Preston Frazier to discuss his ‘Normalcy Bias’ project, his musical beginnings and the albums that have inspired him most.]

“Paternal Irresponsibilities” offers a good contrast, with its slower simmering back beat and the dialog between Lee’s lead guitar set above the contrast of the bass and Minnemann’s drumming. Hints of piano, organ and voice all conspire to make this my favorite song on the album. It’s the best sounding King Crimson song not written or performed by King Crimson.

“Grateful to Entitled to Disrespectful” begins with a Marco Minnemann drum intro, quickly followed by an almost Irish-sounding 12-string electric motif, before becoming more foreboding. The melodic guitar hook tangles with a complex Minnemann backing and a formidable bass line. The distorted guitar lead line breaks the flow, followed by a complex and aggressive counter-melody on piano.

Lucas Lee’s arranging chops are enchanting as he seamlessly integrates many elements but at no point does he fall into prog rock cliché. Each of the six songs on Lowered Expectations is engaging in a melodic sense and musically intriguing. Lee’s albums are as involving as instrumental rock can be. That’s a testament to his skills as a writer, arranger and musician.


Preston Frazier