Densely layered, atmospheric and melancholic indie rock/pop
RadioNDN | Midwestern USA | 10/15/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I don't think there's any doubt that Champaign, Illinois based band Headlights ranks as one of the finest emerging American indie rock bands going. Their third album, Wildlife, further solidifies their standing, striking just the right balance between the guitar based indie rock of their first record and the dream pop of their second. Erin Fein and Tristan Wraight once again trade off vocals, amid music that's often densely layered, atmospheric and melancholic. (More buoyant sounding songs like "Secrets," "Get Going" and "I Don't Mind At All" provide counterweight to that last quality.) There's also a notable lyrical maturity that permeates the entire record, but especially evident on songs like "Love Song For Buddy," "We're All Animals" and the haunting "Slow Down Town." It's hard to imagine them delivering a more satisfying record than this one, one that keeps getting more beautiful and complex the more one listens to it. Standout cuts: "Secrets," "Get Going," "I Don't Mind At All" and "Slow Down Town.""