CD Review of...
Straylight Run
By: Kiki Alexander
Formed just last year by triple threat siblings, (guitar, piano, and vocals) John and Michelle Nolan, along with bassist Shaun Cooper and drummer Will Noon, the indie/emo rock quartet Straylight Run may only be a footnote here or a subtle mention there compared to other bands in their category but like dark chocolate they’re rich, deep, and complicated to the senses all the while steadfast in their sweetness. That, and the both are really very hard to resist.
It’s easy to fall in love with Straylight’s moody piano-driven sound, especially on such tracks as The Tension and The Terror, a charming song that sends off the inept vibe of first love. Or their semi-ethereal single Existentialism on Prom Night, which is already in rotation on MTV2. Also check out Tool Sheds and Hot Tubs- innocent girly-girl vocals (provided by Michelle) against poppy techno beats, a nice step off the path that this album has beat.
Their first release, which is self-titled, feels like a trip down memory lane in the way it holds the feelings and beauty of balancing between knowledge and hope that carries us so strangely through those awkward adolescent years, something we all can or will eventually relate to. For those of you wondering about the name, it derives from the science fiction novel, Neuromancer and really doesn’t mean anything at all in particular. Intriguing though, is the fact that John Nolan and Shaun Cooper left the now hugely popular Taking Back Sunday and, barely leaving enough time for the blink of an eye and a short gasp, formed Straylight Run. But if Straylight’s current success is any indication of what the future holds, I think we’ll be hearing a lot more from these guys for years to come.