Light Years - Temporary

Light Years, a four-piece pop-punk quartet from Cleveland, OH, are releasing a new five-song EP, titled Temporary, on September 9th. Although it has only been a year since the band’s 2013 debut LP, I Won’t Hold This Against You, was released on Paper + Plastick Records, the boys in Light Years have continued to focus on the issues that they face as growing adults in their mid-twenties. For this release, the band is working with Animal Style Records. Light Years consists of vocalist/guitarist Pat Kennedy, bassist Tommy Englert, guitarist Andrew Foerst, and drummer Kent Sliney.

“Late At Night” is my second favorite track off of Temporary. It opens far more solemnly that the first three songs on the EP and picks up quickly with a fast-paced drum part. While portions of the song are “typical” of the pop-punk genre (such as the line “I fucking hate the person you are” and the guitar chords that the song ends on), lyrics like “Late at night, I wish that I was dead” really strike a chord with me. I found this song focused on allowing changes to happen and letting people and pain go in one form or another is often for the better. On the surface, this song seems like a break-up song angled to shame the other individual. However, this track is about moving forward and accepting change, for better or worse.

 

My favorite track off of the EP is definitely “Wandering”.  Aside from the fact that it is the longest track on the EP, the song opens similarly to “Late At Night,” which contrasts with what I expected from this band. I really enjoyed the fact that they extended the slower pace beyond the first few seconds of the song. The less energetic opening still incorporates elements of the bright, poppy instrumentals that are associated with pop-punk, but lyrics like “I did this to myself / You’ve heard it before / Such a tragedy” reflect how taxing struggling with loss happens to be. I connect more with this song than any of the others because change is spoken of as a terrifying thing - something not necessarily wanted.  The only thing I would change about this song is the slightly chunky (and relatively out-of-place) bass line approximately two minutes and fifteen seconds into the song.

 

In addition to a digital release, Temporary has been pressed on limited color vinyl. The first run is 500 copies, available on white vinyl (limited to 100 copies), clear vinyl (limited to 200 copies), and red vinyl (limited to 200 copies). Check Light Years out on tour with Turnover and Malfunction later this fall.