Nightlights

Nightlights: So It GoesSo It Goes (2011)
Eulogy Recordings

Reviewer Rating: 2.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: JeloneJelone
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on December 9th 2011I like Latterman. Apparently, so does Florida punk band Nightlights. So It Goes, the group's latest for Eulogy, is a straight up Latterman tribute (and probably a Kurt Vonnegut reference too). There's some of None More Black's throaty melodicism thrown in, but generally speaking, this record is defi.

I like Latterman. Apparently, so does Florida punk band Nightlights. So It Goes, the group's latest for Eulogy, is a straight up Latterman tribute (and probably a Kurt Vonnegut reference too). There's some of None More Black's throaty melodicism thrown in, but generally speaking, this record is defined by the kind of driving basslines, guitar squalls and singalongs (and goofy song titles) found on Latterman's three records. I feel bad reducing a band's qualities like that, but there you go.

Of course, the one big difference between the two bands is that Latterman's song were about staying positive in the face of adversity. Nighlights, however, tends to wallow. Opener "When You Grow Up Your Heart Dies" is bitter like a bag of lemons at old friends. It's all summed up by one line: "Surrounded by different tones of gray." These guys aren't dong too well.

The rest of the record more or less follows the tear in yr beer drunk-punk songbook. "Truffle Shuffle" is about feeling like a stranger in one's hometown. "That John Denver is Full of Shit!" covers regrets about failed relationships and feeling out of place in one's hometown. "Laces Out, Dan!" discusses getting older. Sad punk bands like this are plentiful right now, so it's kind of hard for any one band to truly stand out when all their songs sound the same and cover the same lyrical territory. That's not to say sad sack drunk punk is entirely bad. There was a great record released this year that dealt with getting older and watching friends move away, about how maybe drinking this much all the time isn't as fun as it used to be, about how growing up means, ya know, growing up, and that that isn't always an easy thing to do. It just wasn't written by Nightlights. It was called Heart Beats Pacific and it was written by Banner Pilot. So it goes.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

fuckin_ay (January 23, 2012)

to the guy down there 2 comments down
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V
this isn't a review by anybody associated with punknews. just a normal listener.

thisguy (January 5, 2012)

Best. Review. Ever. Ahahahahahahahaha

10feettall (December 17, 2011)

punknews.org and it's staff fucking blows...this review is a joke

Icapped2pac (December 12, 2011)

Chuck, I realize the Long Way Home vinyl just came out (I think), but your post made me very curious as to the timetable for this to come out, as I am eagerly awaiting it. I also know that predicting vinyl release dates these days is like predicting lottery numbers, but any information is appreciated.

mattramone (December 11, 2011)

I like this record and these dudes know how to party. Four stars for the album, A MILLION STARS FOR THEIR PARTY SKILLS.

bearchuck (December 10, 2011)

Take this with a grain of salt because not only am I currently working this Nightlights LP, but I also did PR for all the Latterman records ...

Latterman set the bar really high for me in regards to this style of punk, Pretty much the only band that I've been able to truly enjoy since Latterman's breakup is Iron Chic (which I might like even more than Latterman). Nothing against the new set playing this type of punk, but it's just difficult for me to listen without thinking, "Man, I really love No Matter Where We Go."

Having said that, So It Goes somehow struck a chord with me, and even though the Latterman influence is undeniable, I can still listen to it and appreciate the songs for what they are ... which is really catchy, mid-paced gruff punk that you can play over and over again.

Of course, I wouldn't blame anyone for being turned off by the Latterman similarities either. After all, I've done the same with other bands of this ilk. I appreciate Joe's honesty, but yeah ... it's a tad harsh in my opinion. To each his own, I guess.

SilentStorms (December 10, 2011)

Well done on the Vonnegut reference. For some reason I thought that was from Cat's Cradle, so I had to look it up. Oops, Slaughterhouse 5.

Apeman_on_the_moon (December 9, 2011)

The first couple times I heard this record, I didn't like it. I thought it was a giant disappointment from their EP Long Way Home. However, now I kinda like it.

So there you go.

nitad (December 9, 2011)

Well yes, Banner Pilot wrote the record of the year, but still. I like this record, without over analyzing it like someone just did.

frank460 (December 9, 2011)

I agree with this review 100% but bringing up Banner Pilot at the end does nothing for the review. This is simply a latterman/iron chic rip off band and not just lyrical themes and vocal melodies, the music itself is ripped off. It's one thing to honor your inspiration and to be influenced by certain bands but to just sit back and write clones of songs you already love is a waste of time for both the listeners and the band.

kindoflikelisa (December 9, 2011)

Great album, pretty ok dudes

baseball (December 9, 2011)

Does seem like a harsh review. Yeah, this does sound a lot like Iron Chic but I like Iron Chic. Plenty of good songs on this album getting a lot of play from me. Do not at all get the hype on that Banner Pilot album, I'm with danperrone.

wentz_equals_death (December 9, 2011)

pissed jeans' "spent" is a better song about living in different shades of gray. (i am just guessing, i didn't listen to this)

Sho-Nuff (December 9, 2011)

Harsh review. Boiling this release down to a "Latterman rip off" is a discredit to both the reviewer and the band. If the singer's voice was akin to Banner Pilot's you'd be singing (pun intended) a different tune.

damnitsderek (December 9, 2011)

This album isn't exactly the best album of 2011, but it deserves more credit than being 2 1/2 stars, as well.

inagreendase (December 9, 2011)

It's good, but like danperrone said, the closer is unforgivable. They blatantly rip off two different Iron Chic songs in the span of a few minutes.

Icapped2pac (December 9, 2011)

You're so wrong. I know the themes and aesthetic are familiar, but I find this (AND Heart Beats Pacific) to be well executed and a highly enjoyable listen. "Party Hardy, Marty", "...John Denver...", and "Laces Out..." are all strong highlights.

evanPGH (December 9, 2011)

What better first line to reel people in on the org than "I like Latterman"?

Brilliant!

danperrone (December 9, 2011)

compared to a lot of the run of the mill punk that gets praised on here, this was actually a pleasant surprise. amazing how this review references heart beats pacific which is the third straight album of banner pilot playing the same song over and over. this apes iron chic a bit too much at times, though. the last song on here is virtually identical to the last song on the newest iron chic record.

EchosMyron (December 9, 2011)

"These guys aren’t dong too well."

Neither are you, apparently.