If you’re like me, your introduction to Q Lazzarus probably begins and ends with Goodbye Horses—a haunting synthpop masterpiece immortalized in The Silence of the Lambs. But there’s much more to her story than a single song. The upcoming documentary The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus promises to peel back the mystery surrounding Diane Luckey (1960–2022), the elusive cab driver-turned-singer whose voice has echoed far beyond her brief time in the spotlight. This soundtrack serves as both an overdue reintroduction and a reminder of the strange, singular talent that’s been hiding in plain sight.
Opening with the single edit of Goodbye Horses, it’s immediately clear how bizarre it is that the song never became a massive hit. Its hypnotic production, unsettling lyrics, and Luckey’s mesmerizing voice feel like they belong on every late-’80s New Wave playlist. Timing, bad luck, or maybe just being too unconventional might have kept it from wider success, but now it sounds like it was meant for this moment, especially with ’80s sounds back in the mainstream thanks to The Weeknd and Harry Styles.
The deeper cuts on this collection reveal an artist who was full of surprises. The Candle Goes Away is a shimmering pop tune brimming with hooks, its raw, unpolished vocal delivery giving it a DIY charm that likely baffled radio programmers back in the day. Her reading of Talking Heads’ Heaven strips the song down into something more intimate and unsettling. Meanwhile, Summertime blends synth-reggae with electric guitar wails—a quirky, mid-’80s experiment that somehow works. Then there’s I See Your Eyes, a jangly power-pop gem, and A Fool’s Life, which rides a slinky, ominous groove.
The bonus disc offers even more surprises: the hard rocking Flesh for Sale, the stormy I Don’t Want to Love You Anymore, the anthemic stadium-ready Momma Never Said, and Home, an acoustic-gothic track that hints at an entirely different direction she could have pursued.
The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus builds a whole new picture of an artist who was quietly pushing boundaries while everyone else was busy chasing trends. Longtime fans will savor every track, while newcomers like yours truly will wonder how they missed this the first time around.
Genre: New Wave
Release date: February 21st, 2025
Produced by: Q Lazzarus
Label: Sacred Bones Records
Rating: 8/10
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