Luke Spiller – Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes and Wine

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The debut solo album from The Struts frontman, Luke Spiller, is a vulnerable collection of songs about falling in and out of love, and documents his experiences about when he first moved to Los Angeles. Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes and Wine is filled with great string arrangements, slick production, and a 70’s flair that mirrors early James Bond scores. Luke Spiller’s star shines ever so brightly on his first venture away from The Struts to create a record that is both a departure from the sound that he established with his bandmates, and a welcomed throwback to an era of smoke-filled jazz clubs that featured captivating singers.

”Devil In Me” kicks off the album and helps set the overall tone of the record as a whole, as Spiller effortlessly croons over the sweeping instrumentation of the backing orchestra. Lyrical lines like, “I can get along with love, liquor, and song / But there’s something about you I can’t betray / Give me just an hour, I’ll pin your ivory tower / ‘Cause Hollywood’s on fire once again,” paint a vivid picture of Spiller’s headspace, while leaving the right amount of mystique around his words to make them relatable to the masses. “If This Isn’t Love” follows the bombastic opening statement with a great-sounding approach to Spiller’s vocal presence as he ponders on the chorus, “If this isn’t love / Then I don’t know, I don’t know what is / If this ain’t enough / Then I don’t know, I don’t know what is.” Spiller bares his soul for all the world to see, and quickly cements himself as more than capable solo artist.

”The Ending Is Always The Same” is the song that sounds the closest to what The Struts have cut their teeth to since they stormed on the scene over ten years ago, but Luke Spiller adds in some new elements to the mix to prevent the track from feeling like a comfortable, or “safe” choice. The song adds in some well-placed saxophone and great string arrangements to complement Spiller’s dynamic vocal performance. It further accentuates Spiller’s charisma and overall star quality.

The title track leads the record into a new and exciting direction, as Spiller explains his quest for finding that person who makes his world feel a little less alone. In the pre-chorus, Spiller does a great job of explaining the euphoria of falling in love by singing, “I’ve taken all the pills that I could find this еvening / But nothing’s quite like you / I start to gеt the feeling, that…” before bleeding into the hook. “Magic At Midnight At Mel’s Diner” is a nice piano-laced ballad that finds Spiller doing his best Billy Joel impression as he lets the song accelerate to the finish line with captivating storytelling. Lyrics like “Magic at midnight in Mel’s Diner / Stumbling in from cloak and dagger / His hand rests on the bench in the booth / While the other cradles her face,” are melodic, yet rich in detail and emotion as Spiller paints the world around him with vivid colors. This track is one of the many standout moments in the set, and makes Spiller’s foray into the solo territory 100% worth the trip.

”She’s Just Like California” relies mostly on an acoustic guitar for its backing instrumentation, and strips away a lot of the previous heavy orchestra parts to convey the right emotions. Even without the backing orchestra on this song, Luke Spiller continues to remain thrilling through his picturesque storytelling. “I’m With Her (But I’m In Love With You)” is another example of the vivid storytelling aspects that Spiller improves upon in his lyrics, as he weaves a tangled web of being with a different lover, at the time, while his heart firmly resides with someone else. It’s a heart-wrenching song about the complexities of relationships, and makes for another strong addition to Spiller’s lyrical repertoire.

”Don’t Be Afraid To Love Me” gets back to the big orchestral sections that dominated the first few songs, while Spiller adds in breathy vocals overall the vulnerable lyrics of, “Don’t be afraid to love me / Don’t be afraid to care / Don’t be so scared to hurt me / I’m not counting on you to be fair / Don’t hesitate to want me / Don’t be afraid to show / Hold my hand against you now / But don’t be ashamed to let go.” “The Sound of Love” hits its intended target with crisp vocal delivery from Spiller, and the song takes its time setting the stage before reaching its crescendo on the bridge of “My soul’s been burning every timе we touch in a fire / Your eyes are filled with wonder / My heart’s been beating out a song / That started to sound like / A symphony of thunder / And I wonder, do you hear it too or is it just me?” The thunderous piano strokes mesh gorgeously with the full-sounding orchestra, and beckons the listener to get closer.

The album closer of “Angel Like You” is a raucous duet with vocalist Kendall Rucks that plays off like two lovers sharing their thoughts that gradually intertwine with each other. The chorus cements these feelings as Spiller croons, “Time only knows / Where we’ll be when we collide / Wherever you go / I’ll be waiting for you.” Of all the songs found on the record, this one was my favorite, and it showcases the power in Spiller’s vocal performance while simultaneously putting the bright spotlight on his undeniable star quality. Solo ventures don’t always turn out this well, but Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes and Wine is a remarkable leap of faith from Luke Spiller that pays off over and over again.

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