Okay, by now you have read the name Aaron Sprinkle on several of the CDs in your collection like Kutless and Thousand Foot Krutch. You might even know that he and his brother Jesse started the now defunct band, Poor Old Lu in the mid '90's.
What you may not know is that Aaron Sprinkle has a vibrant recording career as well. Didn't know that? Well, don't feel bad. Sprinkle himself must have realized his music was somewhat of an unknown commodity since he has recently released "Lackluster" for Tooth and Nail Records. Basically it is a compilation from past independent albums on labels that have gone under, places he didn't fit or companies that didn't know what to do with him.
A Greatest Hits package? Not exactly. Sprinkle has never had a hit of his own. But with seven solo albums and appearances on as many compilations, he has given us some really wonderful songs. As much as we dislike musical descriptions, we could call his music Emo/modern rock. Equally adept with a full rock band or an acoustic guitar, Sprinkle's often melancholy sound belies the basically optimistic lyrical view in many of his songs.
In finest Petty-like rhythm, the opening track 'Really Something' states this quite well:
Some days I actually forget that this is really something/one smile from You and that this it/It is really something/this is really something good.
Throughout Lackluster, Sprinkle shares everyday feelings so wonderfully simple, honest, and childlike that it is easy to feel like we met a friend here.
"Sweeter Than Me" with its Neil Young acoustic intro and haunting steel guitar, offers a boost of self esteem to a hurting friend. 'You're much sweeter than me by far/you're much stronger than me by far.'
So if you are up for a little thinking, looking for a new musical friend or just want to be entertained. And don't let the name Lackluster fool you. It isn't.
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis May 2004Reviewed by Phil NicholsAaron Sprinkle is relatively well known in music today. If you are not specifically familiar with him you have probably heard of some of the artists he has been involved with. Aaron first entered the scene playing in bands like Poor Old Lu and Rose Blossom Punch. After a few albums, and a fair amount of touring, Aaron took up a job as chief engineer for Tooth and Nail Records. Since then, Aaron…The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Trae CadenheadFor many years Aaron Sprinkle was known as being the guitar player for Christian alternative rock band Poor Old Lu. Since then he has moved on to produce albums for several bands and start a solo career of his own. Sadly, few people realize that Aaron Sprinkle has released three albums thus far in his career: Moontraveler, The Kindest Days, and Bareface. Now Sprinkle has signed to Tooth & Nail…Similar sounding releases
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