Back to the regular scheduled programming that is my life as I woke up early only to sit in bed enjoying having an actual bed again – oh the joys of visiting my mom and sleeping on my nephews old crib mattress. Keep in mind that I’m 5’8”…So it’s safe to say I’m glad to be home and in my office chair listening to music to tell you about. I couldn’t think of a better welcome home than the pop punk of City Lights’ The Way Things Should Be.
At times this record played like the signatures in the yearbook of kids who were graduating with “fuck you” mentality. The youthful bravado played out in songs like “See You At The Top” and “Mistakes.” Each captured the idea of being okay with you who are and moving forward with your life. Not every song was like that though; there were the occasional songs that reminded me of Hit The Lights like “Cold And Grey,” which starts out slow but quickly builds up to be a permanent playlist keeper, “The Dark Side” and “Jeremy’s Song” – it was not City Lights’ homage to the Pearl Jam staple. Other than that the record played like a run-of-the-mill pop punk album thanks to “I’m Sick Of It” and “Promises.”
Obviously if you’re a Hit The Lights fan or have love for State Champs, you’ll want to check out City Lights before the new year – just so you’re ahead of the curve come 2014. After I post this I’m going to head back to my adult sized bed, but before that I have to tell you that City Lights’ sophomore album The Way Things Should Be is out now. So if have a gift card for that permits, buy yourself this record from InVogue Records. Also, don’t forget to check them out on tour in the new year…like, right at the new year in January.
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