L Is For The Way You Look At Me

Most songs are love songs (or lust songs), especially in pop. That's why "protest" numbers and other non-romantic tunes seem unusual. Given this ubiquity, it's saying something to state that Luke Kuplowsky write love songs.

At the Burdock on Tuesday for the release of Luka's 2nd album, with a full band including two lovely backup singers, his prowess was on full display. The songs evoked 50s music, partly from the arrangement, but mostly because of an earnestness and vulnerability that modern male singers won't do. Female divas like Adele might, but though Kuplowsky has a good voice, it's not capable of the usual vocal gymnastics employed in these ballads. So we're left with sharply observant yet hopeful lyrics about love sung softly. But Luka also avoided the equally dreary "sensitive guy" persona with some laugh-out-loud humour and music that often and surprisingly swelled into "rock-out" territory.