Not too long ago I got a copy of Headlights‘ latest release, Some Racing, Some Stopping - halfway in preparation of seeing them live in Dallas on June 11 at the Granada, (opening for Mates of State) and halfway because I really enjoyed what I had heard in the ladyfriend’s car. Overall, this is a good album, but in my mind falls a little short of establishing a real identity in the indy/retro/pop genre. Some Racing, Some Stopping has many highly enjoyable tracks with melodies that drift very nicely along, but somehow don’t really affirm themselves in the way I would like.

The album leads off with Get Your Head Around It, which (like many of the tracks on this album), draws a natural comparison to The Velvet Underground, with it’s poppy sound, clean, picked guitar riffs, plinky xylophones, and coed vocals, depending on the track. The first track does suffer a bit from overly simplistic lyrics, but is overall a solid one. The album then makes a slightly odd turn on the second track, Cherry Tulips, in that it goes widely towards some less than impressive chick-pop, but I like the throwback sound of the bent guitar fill in the background. Market Girl picks up at a crisp pace after Cherry Tulips, and is an a good listen, but otherwise unremarkable track. As I mentioned, many of the tracks really strike up a resemblance to 60s style pop, and the one at the forefront would have to be On April 2nd. This comparison is obvious when you hear the retro organs behind the female vocals.

There are some more subdued/chill tracks which have a much less pop influence, such as School Boys and Some Racing, Some Stopping. I honestly can’t say that I enjoy these tracks as much as the more upbeat ones, but labeling them as “more chill” than the rest of the album is like trying to determine which snowflake is colder. The final four tracks, So Much For The Afternoon, Catch Them All, Towers, and January round out the album in a nice way, and complete the nice trip that the first track started, making this album a very enjoyable listen from top to bottom, without any track really amounting to a misstep.

Overall, this is a solid record, to be sure. While the retro-pop may not fit the taste of every listener out there, Headlights do not put a bad track on the record. While none of the tracks take a firm step forward and establish themselves as something really new or revolutionary, if you put Some Racing, Some Stopping on your stereo at home and play it all the way through, you will find yourself grooving along and not looking for the “skip” (or “eject”) button.

Daigle Rate: 76

Headlights are currently on tour, and I am seeing them tonight in Dallas. Here are their upcoming dates:

6/11 - dallas @ granada *
6/12 - houston @ warehouse *
6/13 - austin @ emo’s *
6/14 - little rock @ rev room *
6/15 - memphis @ hi-tone *
6/16 - nashville@ the end
6/17 - newport @ southgate house *
6/18 - pittsburgh @ mr. smalls *
6/19 - colombus @ cafe bourbon st.
6/24 - st. paul @ eclipse records
6/25 - st. paul @ turf club
6/27 - missoula @ badlander
6/28 - calgary @ sled island festival
7/1 - winnipeg @ royal albert arms
7/2 - fargo @ aquarium
7/3 - madison @ high noon saloon
7/4 - des moines @ 80/35 festival
7/5 - chicago @ empty bottle

* = w/ mates of state

Headlights - Get Your Head Around It - Some Racing, Some Stopping
Headlights - Towers - Some Racing, Some Stopping