Pardon Me – Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights

Let’s be honest, I’m completely infatuated with Jonathan Tyler’s voice, and his whole classic rock look doesn’t hurt either. I first heard about Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights a few weeks ago when I sampled their single Pardon Me and immediately decided this would be a band worth keeping an eye on.

Their full-length album, Pardon Me, is due out on April 27 through F-Stop/Atlantic, and let me tell you – if you like rock, this is the album for you.  The album opens with its namesake. The single, Pardon Me, has a killer guitar riff as its opener, immediately immersing you into a musical realm where big names such as Aerosmith and Van Halen once roamed.

My personal favorite on this album is the second piece, Young and Free. The lyrics and feel of the song reflect the title perfectly. I could really see this track becoming one of those youth anthems of classic rock with its call to “sing a song” about being “young and free.” The guitar solo about halfway through isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but because of the energy that emits from this track, simplicity was definitely the best way to go.  An epic guitar solo would have been much too extravagant.

Paint Me a Picture is one of the slower numbers on this album, and one that really exemplifies Tyler’s voice. Though it has the feel of your typical rock ‘n roll love ballad, its lyrics have a depth that many bands lack nowadays.  These boys also have a southern twang to their work. Gypsy Woman and Devil’s Basement, two of their more bluesy pieces, seem to rely solely on the energy that the guys can personally exert, rather than the beats and extravagance of their instruments. Gypsy Woman, specifically, has a very real, rough feel, but also possesses a refreshing quality.

All in all, Pardon Me is a fantastic piece. It exudes energy on tracks like Pardon Me, Young and Free, Bright Energy, but still remembers to bring the necessity of ballads in rock (Young Love and Paint Me a Picture).  I’m giving this album four out of five bees. Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights certainly have the swagger, the passion, and the talent to take classic rock and make it modern once again.