RIYL: Pet Shop Boys, The Young Professionals, Cassettes Won’t Listen
On his first full length CD recording as Bright Lights Bright Lights, Welsh born singer songwriter Rod Thomas crafts a solid but staid selection of electro pop, leaving behind the folky guitar and ukelele strumming of his earlier self-titled releases. Thomas’ fan-base has grown considerably since his move towards a more danceable house and synth pop sound, earning him touring slots with Ellie Goulding and Scissor Sisters, along with an appearance at the South by Southwest music festival.
Released in 2012, “Make Me Believe In Hope” uses standard house beats and retro-sounding synths to channel an 80’s pop sound that’s been enjoying a resurgence lately. Acoustic and electric guitar surfaces periodically, adding texture to a few tracks, but it’s Thomas’ earnest vocals and smart lyrics that set Bright Lights X2 apart from most other synth pop acts.
‘Love Part II’ is an early standout featuring an uplifting chorus and lyrics about being unabashedly in love. ‘Waiting For The Feeling’ follows on its heels with a likeable melody that gives space for Thomas to craft some fairly nuanced lyrics about wanting more out of a relationship, including the lines “I’m better than the things that you want from me/ So take another guess.”
Scissor Sisters’ guitarist Del Marquis, who has himself started recording electro pop, adds vocals to ‘Cry at Films’, but the track is run of the mill and doesn’t have appreciable staying power. Unfortunately, it’s a common theme on the album. Thomas’ songwriting isn’t groundbreaking and the barebones production leaves little to latch onto sonically. But to be fair, the specific genre of electro pop that Thomas seems to be aiming for here doesn’t leave much room for embellishment. His recently released ‘In Your Care’ EP feels a bit more polished, but stylistically doesn’t make huge leaps forward from the offerings here. It’s a formula for success perhaps, but not superstardom.
