You're Awful, I Love You - Ludo

With their first self-released, self-titled album, Ludo seemed to be on their way to being the kind of smart rock band that Weezer and Fountains of Wayne can be, as lead singer and primary songwriter Andrew Volpe roamed through the ups and down of romance, viewing it all as if he were a coach potato comparing his life to popular movies and TV commercials. Years of touring the Midwest later, Ludo have signed to a major label and come under the wing of a hot producer, Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Train). On You're Awful, I Love You, the band now sounds like it's trying to rank with the Killers and Jimmy Eat World. Wallace achieves a radio-ready mainstream rock sheen, smoothing the band's rough edges. As for the songwriting, every now and then something literate breaks through, such as at the beginning of "Topeka," when Volpe sings, "I found God in a catalytic converter in Topeka on a Monday night," and "Go-Getter Greg" stands out with enough flair to have fit in on the first album. Those who have never heard Ludo before may think You're Awful, I Love You is an efficient work of pop/rock. (Although the final track, "In Space," appears to run 8:19, it actually runs about 3:50, followed by a minute and a half of silence and then the hidden track "Boat Song.") ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide