Eugene + The Lizards - Bugjuice / I Want Action

There’s nothing like a young overachiever to make you feel old. Eugene McGuinness, frontman of Eugene + The Lizards, had already released two acclaimed solo albums by the age of 23, and has now moved on to his first band.

The Lizards specialize in short, optimistic rock tracks, featuring a surprisingly authoritative voice from McGuinness. The first track here, ‘Bugjuice,’ capitalizes on an arch guitar line and a solid collection of “la las,” a clear heir to the Libertines and Domino labelmates Franz. The carnivalesque instrumentation and youth-in-England lyrics make it a track the kids in London would go wild for. It’s perfectly short and sweet.

The second track, ‘I Want Action,’ shows a warm and mature musical authority. Friendly instrumentation and a danceable rhythm make it a true winner. Like the previous track, it comes in at less than three minutes, just long enough to establish itself as a quality track.

McGuinness’ music is comfortable, somehow finding the perfect middle ground between cool-but-cold hipster tunes and easy-but-dull MOR tracks. As a part of Eugene + The Lizards, he’s just plain enjoyable.