Four-piece Ohio Pop Punk/Emo outfit, Light Years, have just released their latest EP Just Between Us... digitally through Escapist Records. The album officially comes out on April 3rd but due to an early leak the band has treated fans by releasing the EP online along with their old album, for just five bucks. Just Between Us, full of sing-alongs, heartfelt lyrics, and catchy Pop Punk hooks, is definitely Light Years' best work to date and worth a buy.
To Live And Die begins the EP strong with a crescendo of instrumentation into a classic Punk blast beat and a strong vocal melody. This song, like others on the release, seems to be about hopelessness and feeling small in this massive world of ours. The chorus, "I got a lot to say, but I can’t make a sound. One day I’ll fade away, buried underground", exemplifies this sense of sadness.
The second track, Scavengers, carries on the theme of sadness and covers a very common lyrical subject in that of growing up. "There’s a weight on my shoulders, it pulls me down. How I hate growing older, let’s turn around". Although there are tons of songs like this, they are relatable and Light Years manage to bring these ideas across in a catchy manner.
Evidence is a fast Punk song, which eventually slows down into a catchy as hell two-step beat. Although very short, with lyrics like, "I’m sick of fuckin' this up, it’s the last thing I need, we all turn to dust, so just forget about me", this will most definitely be a fan favourite. In similar fashion, Liar is another fast one that showcases spectacular speed drumming and the ability of Light Years to slow things down at the end with a great hook.
The last song, Feet First, features the strongest chorus on the EP that will be sure to get stuck in your head time and time again. Lines like, "I wasn’t born to be a saint. I wasn’t born to be anything. So what would you want from me?" and "I hope I land on my feet, cause where I stand I can’t see anything" are lyrics that people can easily relate to about not knowing who they are and what their purpose is in life.
Overall, Just Between Us..., by Light Years is a good Pop Punk album, nothing more, nothing less. Light years prove they can write catchy tunes but lack originality. Besides the drumming, the overall musicianship is sub-par. With simple riffs, simple leads, and typical song structures, these songs could bore some folks. The vocals are good, but there is definitely a noticeable lack of range that would take some of these songs to the next level. However, in a genre flooded by bands, Light Years definitely stand out from the majority of the pack, but still leave room for improvement.
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Written by Andrew Eichinger
