Does Lightning Love Deserve a Cake on their November Birthday?

There are all kinds of sayings about sticking to the basics and the importance of simplicity. And I get the feeling that Ypsilantiʼs Lightning Love has taken every single one of them to heart.

This no frill band features Leah Diel on piano and vocals, Ben Collins on guitar and Aaron Diel on drums. Their sound is very minimalistic and young. Young in the sense that you feel like it could be accompanied by lyrics for kids about stranger danger. But instead their adolescent sound is combined with lyrics about what a bitch it is to grow up. As a whole it sounds sort of like if Rainbow Bright went on a whiskey binge. Upbeat and sweet with some edge on it.

I like them, I like their songs. But, I have a hard time listening to their full album, "November Birthday", in one sitting for exactly 3 reasons:

1. Leahʼs vocals can be a little wearing. Her voice fits the bandʼs sounds well, but can be a bit shrill at times. And even when sheʼs singing about drunkenly pissing in an elevator, she sounds like she singing about cupcakes and puppies.

2. Their songs are like candy. Good, but very sweet, and too much will give you a stomachache...or in this case, a headache.

3. I have a hard time finding an activity or mood that they are a good soundtrack for.

Individually, I like their songs but their album is just too much upbeat happiness for me. Maybe Iʼm just a little too dark to appreciate all the sunshine, rainbows and daisies that Lightning Love has to offer. After all, I hate chocolate and love rainy days.

Written by :

Samantha Bunting