(Devil in the Woods)

www.devilinthewoodsrecords.com

A good hook can be so deceptive.  It disarms your senses, leaving you vulnerable to an avalanche of unpleasant emotions.  Light FM writes hooks that get you dancing before you realize they're spearing you with cynicism.

"Loneliness is next to godliness," sings Josiah Mazzaschi on the title track, before launching into the chorus, "My heart has fallen apart!"  The entire album sounds like an excitingly dysfunctional marriage between the Cure and the Cars, merging manic music with depressing lyrics in a way that makes heartbreak seem like the most ecstatic experience a young man could go through. 

There's a refreshing lack of irony throughout the album, and the band plays all the pathos with a straight face.  Regardless what experimental side trips they take, they always return to a tightly written hook and cheerful chorus.  On "The High" a peppy back beat pushes the song into a frenetic ode to the effects of a chemical imbalance.  Anxiety has never sounded like so much fun and Black Magic Marker reminds us that sometimes the best emotional remedies are hyperactive melodies that make you want to dance through your depression.

Standout Tracks: "Black Magic Marker," "The High" BRIAN CREECH