Dear and the Headlights – Demo / 2005 Self / 3 Tracks / http://www.dearandtheheadlights.com / http://www.myspace.com/dearandtheheadlights / Reviewed 24 September 2005>

Drawing together the simultaneous threads of angular, Franz Ferdinand-like rock with the Brit-roc put forth by acts like Blur, Dear and the Headlights are able to sound timeless even if some of the arrangements do happen to contain a lot of “vintage” sound. “Sweet Talk” has a number of different sounds in under three minutes; this does not proclaim Dear and the Headlights as a band trying to ape sounds for greater acceptance, but as a talented band that can pick up and place down genres like the tools they are.

The production value on this demo is great, really allowing Dewar and the Headlights to shine even only five months out of their first show. The extended length of “Daysleeper” is yet another rperfect exercise for the band, as the slower, laidback tempo is perfect for the band to really show a sight that is sadly absent from newer bands. While there are moves during “Daysleeper” from slow to fast and dark to light, this is not the change for change’s sake that really is too common in newer acts. The atmosphere that Dear and the Headlights are able to create during the interludes between the choruses really are chock-full of morning and loss, the nuanced arrangements really pulling listeners along until the last strains of the track. Surprisingly, the decision to have an increased, minute-long interlude works out; there is enough differentiation in the arrangement to keep individuals interested and focused in.

In fact, the vocal section of “Daysleeper” might be the exception to the rule; the thin tendrils of music that make up the beginning to the second interlude really are differentiated from the other instrumental outburst primarily through the vocal section of the track. The chiaroscuro of the ultimate track “Run in the Front” really allows Dear and the Headlights to expand their general sound to include both the emotive singing of bands like Brand New and Midtown, while the instrumentation on the track seems to recall Rusted Root. Even though there are only a total of three tracks on this demo, Dear and the Headluights have put forth their all and really shown listeners that they can make it as a serious band. Most bands would not be able to do half of the things that the band does in the space of 12 minutes; it may be a decent amount of time before their first album comes out but I am confident that the band will be able to pull off the full-length as gracefully and successfully as they do during this EP.

Top Track: Run in the Front

Rating: 6.4/10