Song of the Day: Lightouts - More Than Ever

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Morning Show with John Richards, is “More Than Ever” by Lightouts from the 2015 single on Audible Treats.

Lightouts - More Than Ever (MP3)

When they emerged in the early 2010s, Lightouts' tightly-coiled take on post-punk made them worthy successors to the buzz that met their revivalist predecessors in New York a decade prior. The band began when guitarist Gavin Rhodes posted a note requesting a musician who shared his love of both The Cure's Robert Smith and Metric's Emily Haines. Singer Greg Nelson responded, and a series of singles and gigs followed before they released their long-gestating debut Want in 2013. In 2014, Nelson was replaced by latter-day Dead Kennedys singer Skip Greer ahead of the 2015 single "More Than Ever". In light of lineup changes and prolonged periods of silence, "More Than Ever" is set up as a test to see if Lightouts still have the fire that drove their past records, and the answer is a resounding "yes." Despite clocking in at a fairly lean 3:42, the song moves through a more disparate set of sections – running through a driving intro and percussive verses before reaching a spiky, pop-influenced finale – than most songs of its length would, but Nelson and Rhodes sound focused and natural throughout every shift. The sharp, chugging track may be the result of a band who just emerged from a significant transition, but "More Than Ever" makes a strong case that the duo are plenty prepared to move into whatever musical current awaits them next.

Lightouts don't have any gigs announced at the moment, so keep an eye on their website and Facebook for any news on future gigs or music. Below, watch the video for the Want track "The Big Picture".