Lucero – “Should’ve Learned by Now”

Lucero have never been a band to sit still, though their shifts in sound usually feel more like detours than reinventions. After exploring darker, moodier terrain on their last two releases, the Memphis outfit return to something a little brighter, looser and more immediate with Should’ve Learned by Now. This is a record that embraces humor and heartache in equal measure, pulling from punk angst and country earnestness, all tied together by Ben Nichols’ unmistakable drawl. It may not break much new ground for the band, but it delivers exactly what fans want: Lucero doing what Lucero does best.

The tone is set instantly with opener “One Last F.U.”, a rollicking track that establishes the lighter, more humorous edge of the record. Nichols’ tongue-in-cheek lyricism comes across less bitter and more wry, a kind of self-aware grin that runs through much of the album. It’s a clever way of signaling that Lucero aren’t trying to replicate the gloom of their last two efforts. This is a record that wants you to smirk along with the band, even as it wrestles with regret and longing.

Musically, Lucero once again pull off the balancing act that has defined them for two decades: a seamless blend of punk grit and country soul. The guitars are crunchy without losing twang, the piano and organ lines come in like southern gospel ghosts, and the rhythm section drives everything forward with just the right amount of looseness. It’s a sound that feels both lived-in and immediate, like an old barroom jukebox that still kicks.

Nichols’ nasally crooning remains the beating heart of Lucero’s identity. His voice isn’t conventionally pretty, but it’s expressive, aching and ragged in just the right way. It’s the sound of nights spent chain-smoking on back porches and mornings spent trying to make sense of bad decisions. Meanwhile, drummer Roy Berry deserves serious praise here. His work provides the backbone of the record, propelling songs with a mix of urgency and swing that keeps everything locked in place.

The highlights are scattered across the tracklist, each with its own character. “Buy a Little Time” stands out for its irresistible post-chorus riff, a little guitar-and-piano interplay that sticks in your head long after the track ends. “At the Show” shifts the mood into something more bittersweet, Nichols chasing memories of lost love through the haze of a dimly lit venue. And then there’s the title track, “Should’ve Learned by Now,” which distills the record’s themes into one concise, wryly self-deprecating anthem, a reminder that lessons learned often don’t stick, and maybe that’s just part of being human.

Lyrically, the album finds Nichols in familiar territory: regrets, broken relationships, bad habits and fleeting moments of redemption. What keeps it fresh is the way humor weaves into the darkness. Where previous Lucero albums might have wallowed, this one cracks a smile and shrugs, finding a strange comfort in the mess. That balance of levity and weight keeps the album engaging, even when the themes themselves aren’t new.

Production-wise, the album is polished but not sterile. Everything sits right where it should: the guitars crunch without swallowing the piano, Nichols’ vocals cut through without being scrubbed clean, and the rhythm section maintains warmth while still packing a punch. The result is a record that sounds crisp enough for headphones but still raw enough to belong in a smoky club.

If there’s a criticism, it’s that Should’ve Learned by Now doesn’t push Lucero into any unfamiliar waters. Yes, the upbeat energy is a refreshing pivot from the darker tone of their last couple albums, but fundamentally this is still the same Lucero we’ve known for years. That’s not a bad thing, consistency is part of their charm, but it does leave a sense that the band could have taken a few more risks.

Still, the album succeeds on its own terms. It’s fun, it’s heartfelt, and it’s unmistakably Lucero. Fans will find plenty to love here, and newcomers will get a strong sense of what the band is all about. In the end, Should’ve Learned by Now is less about reinvention and more about reaffirmation — proof that Lucero’s mix of punk grit, country soul and self-deprecating wit still hits right where it should.

For Fans Of:

• Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
• The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound
• Two Cow Garage – Speaking in Cursive