Music Review – The Honorary Title, Scream & Light Up the Sky

With their latest effort, The Honorary Title proves they are hipper than the average my-mommy-never-loved-me indie pop band. Scream & Light Up the Sky offers a subtle melancholy. The bones of the album are its deft lyrics and contagious hooks. It’s hard to believe that Title was once just vocalist/guitarist Jarrod Gorbel’s and bassist Aaron Kamstra’s two-man crew.

The tracks “Stay Away” and “Radiate” showcase Gorbel’s not-afraid-to-scream-it voice. Lucky for the listener, emotion gets the best of him in that universal way all us wannabe pop stars can relate to. Guitar lines provided by Kamstra as well as guitarist/keyboardist Jon Wiley highlight both songs. The repetitious chords become a permanent fixture in your hum-along memory.

“Stuck at Sea” is quite possibly the most impressive song on the album – and the most rockin’. Arena-sized riffs set the stage for a been-there tale of heartbreak over lost love. Gorbel admits, “I keep burning my fingers in an attempt to rekindle the flame.” Such inconsolable lyrics are impossible to deny.

“Far More” is a slower, folksier tune with an acoustic guitar and mournful vocals. Refreshingly un-indie tracks like this one leave you wondering what Title has in common with their much beloved Jeff Buckley and Elvis Costello. Perhaps the band was encouraged more than influenced by these too-cool-for-mainstream legends. Whatever the case, these guys deliver a unique sound needed in this decade.

Serena Sanford

thehonorarytitle.com