Daylight’s Jar is unlike anything the band has produced thus far. Some four years ago, they released Sinking, a melodic, fast-paced punk EP. Now, in 2013 and on Run For Cover Records, Daylight channeled its inner nineties spirit and made alternative rock—and more specifically, grunge—a force to be reckoned with--again. While the group didn’t do it singlehandedly, Balance And Composure’s and Basement’s most recent LPs led the way, Daylight show that they fit into a piece of the reemerging puzzle as well.
Jar’s opener “Sponge” is the quintessential grunge-inspired song. Gritty guitars, self-deprecating lyrics that introduce a home-oriented theme, and a drawling voice not dissimilar to the late, great Kurt Cobain’s reveal that Daylight is growing up by changing its sound. The riffs are aggressive, but the leads soar in a way that’s not familiar to this sound. “Life In A Jar” continues on the course “Sponge” set but manages to be bigger. Yells replace whispers and passiveness transforms into rage, thus showing that Daylight does not stop at being just an “everything sucks, let’s write songs about it” kind of alternative rock band.
After the second track, the forty-plus-minute Jar’s songs start to meld together. With the exception of “Sheltered[’s]” catchiness, one feels lost in the shuffle of angst. But Daylight bounces back when they choose to slow themselves down. “Youngest Daughter” rejuvenates the record for the remaining five songs and shows more a neo-emo vibe as opposed to the new grunge feel the majority of the record held.
Taking a cue from “Sheltered”, “Hole In The Ground” shows Daylight wearing its heart on its sleeve. The track is unlike anything on the album not only in terms of slowed-down and stripped sound but also in sheer emotion. The song details the narrator’s missing his mother on tour and fearing her eventual death with his not being there for her. Daylight’s fans, while not all touring musicians, will quickly and sadly relate to the material as they all grow up and move away from being safe at home in their families.
The already released “In On It” channels Nirvana like no other track on the album with catchy, angst-ridden music and lyrics. As the penultimate song on Jar, “In On It” is fantastic at summarizing what Daylight are trying to do with their debut record: make something that inspired them—grunge—new again.
“Around The Railing” closes Jar in the epic fashion that “Life In A Jar” introduced before. In its simplicity, the final track is unimaginably tight in musicianship, thematic elements, and emotion. The song brings the album home, back to the narrator’s childhood, and because of that extreme connection and display of heartache, “Around the Railing” is Daylight’s perfect song, which only entices listeners into becoming excited for what’s to come.
Daylight rips pain from its heart and throws it into song. While there is not a song on Jar that isn’t full of emotion, the debut album becomes lengthy during the earlier half due to the similar sounds. Nevertheless, the songs aren’t bad; they’re just not as good as the rest of the record and what the band’s capable of—and Jar has certainly shown this is only the beginning of Daylight’s greatness.
Tracklist:
1. Sponge
2. Life In A Jar
3. Outside Of Me
4. Sheltered
5. Crawl
6. Last October
7. Youngest Daughter
8. Knew
9. No One's Deserving
10. Hole In The Ground
11. In On It
12. Around The Railing
RIYL: Colourmeinkindness by Basement, Nirvana, grunge
Rating:
Written by Joe Wasserman
