Reviews

Mystery Box

Fake Lighters Missing the Boat LP

Melodic punk that utilizes upbeat bass lines, the occasional upstroke, and stop/start break parts, with a gang vocal “hey” and “whoa-oh” peppered in here and there. This is the epitome of some dudes getting together and saying “Hey, let’s start a band that sounds like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,” and I mean that in the best possible way. This is very enjoyable in that it is familiar. These dudes definitely aren’t reinventing any wheels here, but sometimes that’s not a bad thing.

Fake Lighters Sinking In LP

This has a real OFF WITH THEIR HEADS/DILLINGER FOUR feel to it. It’s sloppy but authentic, and chock-full of hooks and sing-along parts. This has all the perfect elements of a “windows down, car full of friends shouting along with the songs” record. I feel like Long Island, NY has been churning out more and more of this kinda stuff in recent years. Simple and memorable, passion-filled, with vocals bleeding through the guitars with melody and honesty. Apparently they’ve been cranking out the hits for four years. Also, I gotta talk about the sleeve with a big ol’ grizzly holding a dandelion as the fish jump past him. I love it. I’d wear that shirt.