Ludo

by William RuhlmannLudo are primarily a vehicle for the songs of lead singer Andrew Volpe, who wrote nine of the 11 tracks on the group's self-titled debut album, the other two contributed by guitarist Tim Ferrell in much the same style. Musically, that style is a cut above pop-punk, employing driving, rhythmic guitar strumming as its basic sound, but with abrupt tempo shifts and occasional odd time signatures. Ludo may rev up to a punk blare as, for example, at the start of the final track, "Girls on Trampolines," but only to subside to a syncopated beat or have keyboardist Tim Convy throw in an odd blurp from his Moog synthesizer. It's all in the service of Volpe's lyrics, sung in a nervous, adenoidal tenor. His tongue often resting in his cheek, Volpe creates the persona of a young, horny pop-culture maven on the lookout for love when he isn't watching TV. His references are frequently to films ("I feel like Elliott when E.T. drank the beer," he declares, trying to explain his attraction to a girl in "Saturday Night Thunderbolt") and commercial products ("Your voice like sprayed Febreeze," goes a line in "Laundry Girl"), and his feelings range from utter devotion ("Sara's Song") to utter contempt ("Good Will Hunting by Myself"). But always, the search for love goes on, from laundromats to impromptu beer blasts behind Burger King. It isn't easy finding a mate with whom you can "make fun of Charlie Sheen," and who won't take offense when you tell her she's wrong to think that "The Kids in the Hall was the best show of them all." Such is the challenge of modern life, as set to some rocking tunes by Ludo.