Dear and the Headlights: Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
Too old for Taking Back Sunday, but not yet ready to settle down for bands like Maroon 5 and The Fray? Look no further, Dear and the Headlights brings in the best of both worlds. The Tempe based quintet belts out refreshing lyrics and beats that don’t drift too far from the pop-rock genre.

They open the album up with Oh no! which captures the audience with its constant progression. It introduces the theme of the album undoubtedly. Small Steps, Heavy Hooves is relaxing yet upbeat and fun.

This is what I like to call a “summer C.D.” It is catchy and something really fun to listen and sing along to while you’re driving. If the music isn’t enough, they have innovative and amusing song titles without making them a sentence long such as I’m Bored, Your Amorous and Skinned Knees and Gapped Teeth.

One of the slower songs, Paper Bag, is basically one long simile where vocalist, Ian Metzger, compares himself to a paper bag. It is a creative use of grammar techniques learned in grade school. While all of their lyrics are very easy to relate to, which makes the album even more fun to listen to; this song probably has the most relatable lyrics.

The Hot, Hot, Heat-esc I Just Do is definitely the best song on the album in my opinion. It’s very cheerful and easy to bounce around to, which is always a plus. Then they slow it down one more time with the closer, Midwestern Dirt.

It is hard to believe that a band with this much talent hasn’t made it big yet, however that may change because they are currently on tour with Jimmy Eat World and Paramore. I take pride in speaking for many that Small Steps, Heavy Hooves is an incredible release from Equal Visions and Dear and the Headlights.