Headlights coming out of the dark
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The good thing about working on a personal Top 10 (or top 20, 30, 40, however many) albums of the year is that something marvelous that snuck past will whack you upside the head and say, "DO NOT IGNORE ME!"
Such it is with the latest Longwave album. Their album The Strangest Things owned me for a while with their blend of shoegaze guitars, post-punk rhythms, and Steve Schlitz's lovely vocals. Apparently the "difficult second album syndrome" skipped a turn on them, because their third album There's A Fire was DOA to these ears. So I arrived at Secrets Are Sinister with slightly diminished expectations.
This song, however, demands attention. Starting with atmospheric keys before dropping into a beastly bass line, it gets my head bobbing in five seconds flat. Steve's vocals come in next, stilla strong yet delicate instrument to rival Ben Gibbard's. The guitars pick and jab through the verses before taking flight in the chorus. And the last 30 seconds really do it for me, as all but the drums drop out as Steve drops the final verse:
You gotta get back where you started.
Before it's too late.
Your eyes are aglow, or maybe they're headlights.
Coming out of the dark.
So yes, I do think Secrets Are Sinister will make it onto my Top 40.
Locating MOG account...
Comments (10)
love those guitars, esp. towards the end. never heard of these guys, might have to check it out further
Oh they're worth it Rob. This is what initially endeared them to me.
Okay, I'm hooked. I'm a sucker for beastly basslines.
As am I, Julia, as am I.
Oophh! I thought these guys were just a one album band, didn't realize they made it past "The Strangest Things". I'm with Jules, beastly basslines and/or slamming drums always get me.
I'll never get a top ten out on time now.
very tight stuff, liking that video too dale
with a last name like Schlitz you know its got to be good
Dave, this year's album release was a surprise to me as well. I have Blair to thank for alerting me to it.
Rob, when they're on, they're very on.
Kevin, I knew someone else would have that slogan running through their head, heehee.
oh, man. how did i even miss this post? thanks, EMCDale. i am so in.
No worries, the listening bar's always open for you Ilay. :)