Review Summary: 'Need This Light' is the type of record that you will play every now and then, but it doesn’t stand up to what the band has given us before.
The first thought that came to mind when listening to Ra Ra Riot’s latest record 'Need Your Light' was “… okay?” That isn’t to say that it is a bad record. On the contrary, it adds to the New York quintet’s history of making solid records. The problem here is that 'Need Your Light' is forgettable. Say what you will about 'Beta Love' and it’s overly produced synth-pop sound, it was a fun record with some of their catchiest songs to date. The problem was that Ra Ra Riot went so far away from what made them unique that it was hard to remember what made them stand out in the first place. Well, cut to three years later and what we are left with is a band back-tracking to their earlier sound.
'Need Your Light' is essentially what Ra Ra Riot should have made after 'The Orchard'. It reintroduces us to the rest of the band instead of the Wes Miles show that we got with 'Beta Love', while still utilizing synths where appropriate. Mathieu Santos’ bass lines are as smooth as ever; Rebecca Zeller is front and center like she was in the band’s first two records; and you can actually hear Milo Bonacci’s guitar playing over the synths and vocals this time around. 'Beta Love' was victim to weak and under-utilized instrumentation, but 'Need Your Light' brings the other members of the band back in full effect, and it’s stronger for it. And let’s not forget about Wes Miles, who is at the top of his game. This time around staying in his range and not trying to hit notes that are way too high for him. The only weak part of the band is newest drummer, Kenny Bernard. 'The Orchard' had some incredible drums courtesy of Gabe Duquette, and as simple as Josh Freese’ drums were on 'Beta Love', they were solid and provided a good back bone to the songs. The drums this time around don’t really provide anything that a looped Garage Band drum beat couldn’t provide. They are boring and weak, and it might be why they are essentially drowned out by the rest of the band.
What about the songs? They’re just okay. After listening to the record a few times, it is kind of unmemorable. Opener “Water” is slow and droning and doesn’t go anywhere. Title track “I Need Your Light” is so easy to skip due to how insanely boring it is. Nothing about the song is interesting and it isn’t even easy on the ears, and it’s definitely a contender for worst Ra Ra Riot song (right after “What I Do For U”).
However, there are plenty of good songs on this record. “Bad Times” is an instant head-bopper. “Absolutely” has such a great sing-along chorus and dancey vibe that it would be a perfect fit on any party playlist. “Call Me Out” is a great throwback to ‘The Rhumb Line’ era, with its baroque pop/indie rock sound, it is a definite stand out amongst the sugary pop that encompasses this record. “Bouncy Castle” is definitely the best song on the album, with its fun vibe and fantastic build-up.
'Need Your Light' is a solid record. It has its merits and lets us see that the band are still fantastic musicians, which we didn’t really get to see on their previous record. And I appreciate them pulling back on the synth-pop this time around. But these songs are easy to forget. I don’t know; maybe I was spoiled. 'The Orchard' was such a phenomenal record. It made me love the band. And even though 'Beta Love' was not a great Ra Ra Riot record, it was still a good record overall. But this record has nothing to say. It makes no statement. It’s just there. 'Need This Light' is the type of record that you will play every now and then, but it doesn’t stand up to what the band has given us before.
