This Louisiana trio is best described as “Toad the Wet Sprocket and the Gin Blossoms co-headline for a Muzak benefit.” Deluxe is as sappy as sappy gets.
From the first tortured chords of “Bullfight,” you can feel the raw energy blasting off of the silicon. They switch moods like a schizophrenic girlfriend.
Tripe’s vocals are familiar, but clean and solid, not needing any trick effects to fatten out the sound, and the lyrics are intelligent and well-written.