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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Light the Way
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Light the Way
Long Story Short

Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 37 minutes, 0 seconds
Style: Pop Punk
Street Date: April 1, 2022
Buy It: AmazonMP3



Between 2016 and 2019, California pop punk band Light the Way released three EPs and one full-length album. So it was a bit surprising to have not heard much more than a peep from them in the last three years since their Dad Gang EP. But that's finally changing with the release of their Small Step Records debut, Long Story Short.

As it turns out, this time between releases was good for the band, as this batch of songs is some of their best work. While it definitely has the same overall sound longtime fans will be familiar with, they sound more confident than ever. Of course, they're still the same fun-loving band they were before; if song titles like "Burt Macklin, FBI" and "Han Shot First" didn't give that away, the opening lyrics will: "Over 30 now, much more sturdy now / But my back will sometimes ache now / I still listen to Ocean Avenue / 'Cause that record still rips, dude / I got an IRA, yeah because my 401K / Didn't transfer from my last job / But I still wear band merch underneath my dress shirts / I couldn't stop punk rock even if I tried." But despite the almost carefree image they've cultivated, their overall songwriting seems to have improved in the last three years (see personal favorites "Scatterbrained" and "Long Division"), as has their interest in creating a more diverse sound. Light the Way has always had a bit of a Craig's Brother-meets-New Found Glory sound. That's still largely the case, but Long Story Short definitely sees them branching out a bit more, and in multiple directions. "Guts" turns up the tempo with some vicious skate punk, while parts of "Han Shot First" feel more like mid-'00s Weezer. On the other side, "They Will Let You Down" would almost sound at home on a 6'10 album, and "2AM" is a sweet little acoustic/piano ballad that's quite touching for the parents out there ("And I love every minute with you / Even at two o'clock in the morning / And you think that as I grow / You'll miss me now because you think I won't need you the same way / But I'll always need you."

Now it is the year 2022, about two decades after the big pop punk boom of the early 2000s. Most of the people I know that are in, or are fans of, the pop punk scene are in their 30s and 40s now. Whereas, 20 years ago, the songs were about the woes of finding or keeping relationships and loving or hating this town, Light the Way is focusing on more mature, yet still relatable issues. "Burt Macklin, FBI" and "Scatterbrained" both deal with anxiety to varying degrees (the former says, "Overthinking everything / I hold myself back more than anything / I know there's great things In my reach / If I only don't trip over my own feet"). They're also vocal about social media addiction in "Han Shot First," a history of abandonment in "They Will Let You Down," and our over-opinionated society in "Long Division." Their honesty in these topics is refreshing and, as I said earlier, easy to relate to. But instead of wallowing in these downfalls and failures, the central theme of the album (long story short, if you will) is the hope found in Jesus Christ. I think the end of "Guts" sums it up quite nicely: "I'm broken, but I am made new through the blood of the Lamb."

I've been a fan of Light the Way since their debut with Indie Vision Music, and I've followed along with each new release, with little to no disappoint along the way. And with Long Story Short, I think it's safe to say that they're at the top of their game. The album is enjoyable from start to finish, and I anticipate keeping it in rotation for the foreseeable future. Welcome back, guys!

- Review date: 4/1/22, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: Small Step Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 37 minutes, 0 seconds
. Street Date: April 1, 2022
. Buy It: Small Steps Records
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Goofball (2:40)
  2. Burt Macklin, FBI (3:33)
  3. Chameleon Eyes (3:56)
  4. Guts (2:58)
  5. They Will Let You Down (3:14)
  6. Han Shot First (2:30)
  7. Scatterbrained (3:36)
  8. Long Division (3:46)
  9. Worrywart (3:21)
  10. 2AM (2:29)
  11. In Our Time Rules (0:52)
  12. Steering Clear (3:54)

 

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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