With another busy festival season just around the corner, Lacey make a strong claim for their place on your summer playlist with ‘Under The Brightest Lights’. Having honed their pop-rock sound with their 2013 ‘Outlaws’ EP, Lacey’s début album strikes the perfect balance between melody and muscle in a way that calls Jimmy Eat World’s recent efforts to mind.
‘Tonight’ gets the album off to a suitably bright start with the strong vocals and anthemic chorus immediately hooking you in. Underneath the polished surface Lacey flex their creative muscles as the song grows in confidence and ambition before reaching a fittingly bold conclusion. ‘My Eyes Are Open’ continues to build upon the sense of momentum, and is once again centred around showcasing Graham Turner’s vocal range and ability, as he fills every verse and chorus with passion.
There’s no doubt that Lacey can write excellent upbeat rock songs, but ‘Under The Brightest Lights’ also demonstrates their skill when it comes to showing their more laid back side. ‘Contender’ is the closest they come to a ballad, but the strength of the song writing keeps it well clear of clichéd lighters in the air territory and it’s one of the best songs on the album. Lacey also include an acoustic track in the form of the heartfelt ‘Wait Till Tomorrow’, and the rough around the edges feel works brilliantly despite sitting at odds with the production of the rest of the album.
Whilst the balance of styles is part of the appeal of ‘Under The Brightest Lights’, there are one or two efforts that fall victim to Lacey’s tendency to favour big choruses and soaring vocals. Although ‘Find A Way’ is full of vocal harmonies and solid guitars it feels disappointingly empty and contrived. ‘Reset To Zero’ on the other hand simply sounds unfinished as it’s missing the crucial guitar hook that would elevate it to being something special.
It can be hard to create a début album that has such a clear sense of identity, but apart from one or two hiccups Lacey have achieved it with ease. ‘The Last Time’ is all pacey and energetic guitars that are propelled forward by thumping drums, and ‘Older’ is the perfect anthemic finish that ‘Under The Brightest Lights’ deserves. As accessible as it is ambitious, Lacey have captured their energy, skill, and flair, and created a record that they should be incredibly proud of.
CHRIS HILSON