Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.0
Production: 9.0
Originality: 8.5
Tracklisting
2. Sweet Talk
3. Hallelujah
4. Happy In Love
5. I'm Bored, You're Amorous
6. Grace
7. It's Gettin' Easy
8. Paper Bag
9. Skinned Knees & Gapped Teeth
10. Run in the Front
11. Mother Make Me Golden
12. I Just Do
13. Midwestern Dirt
I saw it coming from a million miles away. Upon hearing some of the band's early demo tracks over a year back, I knew they were destined for greatness. You might think I'm being a bit overemphatic, but I assure you I'm not. Though I've already declared my undying allegiance, don't take this review with a grain of salt. This band deserves every bit of praise that I'm about to put forward.
Don't for a minute write Dear and the Headlights off as another one of Equal Vision's forays into the relatively mainstream punk rock realm. While I myself certainly hold Equal Vision in high esteem, their new addition is a welcome reprieve from the label's hardcore and "emo" laden roster.
Though this Arizona quintet seems to draw from an amalgam of influences, they still retain a substantial amount of originality. The band so effortlessly combines some irrestible pop/rock melodies with the slightly less contrived sounds of the alt-country and folk rock domains. The raw, unrehearsed vocal stylings of frontman Ian Metzger only further contributes to the band's signature rough and tumble sound. "Small Steps, Heavy Hooves" commences with a rousing, airy little acoustic romp before delving into the more acerbic (yet still completely delightful at the same time - if you can imagine that) and uninhibited sounds of "Sweet Talk." While I assure you that the band's debut is of the "do not press skip" type, I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you that their are a few tracks I hold more dear than others. "Daysleeper", which appears in it's original, unaffected demo version, is an acoustic testament to the ever so painful ordeal of unrequited love. "Happy In Love", a minimalistic, ethereal ballad, as well "I'm Bored, You're Amourous", which renders a completely different mood, might just take the cake. Metzger's incredibly fluid and conversational style of lyricism that pervades the entire disc simply makes the disc all the more compelling.
Debut records usually leave room to grow. Since the band has already created a stunning record in their early years, I can't even imagine what they're capable of at full capacity. Though it's only Feburary, I can assure you that "Small Steps, Heavy Hooves" will see it's way into my top 5 of 2007.