Album Review

Never Heavy Releases “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light”

Steve Alex’s new album is Never Heavy Is One Full of Light. The former frontman of the nineties alt-rock band Four Star Riot has forgone excess production value for a simpler, much more acoustic touch. The album skews the distinctly modern with the excess throwback, something decidedly in for the last couple of years because of romanticization of the past.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/neverheavy

It could be the sixties, with the sexual revolution fashion and counter-cultural zeist, the seventies being the era of the singer-songwriter juggernauts, when the maestro of the excess confessional was sexiest person of the year. “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light” skews the latter excessively, literally starting with the title, down to the lyrics Alex has written for each track. The album also reflects the era because of the fact each song is a story, all thematically linked, with beginnings middles and ends. The other thing very much a welcome throwback is how personal Alex makes each song, feeling like a vulnerable creative expression.

What makes the album as a whole compete aside from nostalgia is the assuredness with which Alex performs each track. It’s unusual to feel like an artist has their own material on lock, there naturally being hits and misses throughout the course of their career, even their own, individual releases. I’m pleased to say Mr. Alex never falls into any traps on that front. The album is insanely consistent, maddeningly so. I would have liked to see a few cracks here and there, but all in all it’s a solid and entirely immersive achievement.

There’s a visceral quality to each of the tracks, something deeply gripping not just about the music itself but the stories it tells. Storytelling is the lost art of songwriting, much like poetry it’s about speaking to the heart in addition to the mind, conjuring immersive emotive experiences not easily dismissible even when it ends. A lot of this in Alex’s case likely points back to his experiences as rock frontman for Four Star Riot. It’s clear he’s carried this over to “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light,” once stating in an article with V13 Media: “The stage is a great leveler. It is the true yard-stick by which an artist can be measured.”

In the same article, Alex was quoted as saying, “The only reason to be in a rock band is to play live, period…The energy that is given during the show between the band and the audience is the most exhilarating thing I know. It’s fun as well as emotional, but I guess the best part is the danger. My Pseudo-dance and swagger has in the past, produced sprained ankles and bloody puncture wounds. Y’know, the possibility that at any moment the whole thing can fall apart, but that is the beauty of live performances, it’s here, then it’s gone and on to the next song.”

APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/never-heavy/1492197159

He carries this mentality to the soft rock nature of his independent release. In many ways, the aforementioned sentiments have never proven more relevant. People crave connectivity in this era, with polls regularly pointing out depression, isolation, and a lack of social cohesion are at record highs. It’s nice to see someone turn back the hands of time on that front, if just a little bit, reminding us about everything that works outside of the corporate-controlled, digitally enhanced world of the top forty still has it.

Loren Sperry

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Related Topics:album review never heavy one full of light

Up Next

“My Own Superhero” by Alli Brown delivers an anthemic pulse for evoking self-reliance

Don't Miss

Jared Harper delivers a sonic vibe with love in “I’ll Find A Better Way”

Honk Magazine

Album Review

Big O redefines artistic evolution with “When it’s Not Said, But Done” album

Big O’s “When it’s Not Said, But Done” is a whisper of transformation narrated through rhythm, texture, and space. Across its fifteen tracks, spanning just under forty-seven minutes, Big O sacrifices flash for feeling and ego for essence.

The production feels like an artist who has finally quit chasing something external and is instead listening inward. The flow of the album is methodical but organic, with each track leading into the other as if they were diary entries. On “Free Spirit,” Big O creates a soundscape that embodies freedom in action, with rhythms that propel you forward. It’s one of those rare songs that can be at once contemplative and propulsive, with a slow revelation. And also, “New Found Joy” is an anthem for rebirth.

Big O’s production vision here is sweeping and cinematic, but also intimate. The presence of live musicians gives an organic texture. Jeronimo G’s xylophone on track nine tolls like an intimate conversation, while IB Delight’s saxophone on track ten blows satisfying warmth and longing into the mix. These collaborative moments are the crucial parts of Big O’s unfolding language.

Every choice, from the minimal artwork by Andriyan Robby to the in-house mixing and mastering by Big O himself, is consistent with the album’s spirit of transformational thought. In “When it’s Not Said, But Done,” Big O has created a statement on silent courage. It is an album for those who know that, in reality, real change does not need to be shouted from the mountaintops, but only heard, felt, and lived.

Connect with Big O on Facebook | Instagram | X |

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Album Review

W.C. Beck delivers a balance of stillness and introspection on ”A Mostly Quiet Life”

Singer-songwriter W.C. Beck has long been admired for his reflective storytelling and innovative approach that transcends traditional musical genres. His latest album, “A Mostly Quiet Life,” invites you into a realm where quiet moments possess considerable significance. The album spans slightly over 35 minutes and comprises eight tracks, offering a delicate yet bold exploration of life’s softer spaces, infused with subtle rock undertones amidst Beck’s signature mellow vocal style.

At first listen, two tracks prominently establish the thematic duality of the album: “Every Drop of Water” and “Blue Umbrella.” The former features a slow-burning intensity, built around subtle guitar textures and Beck’s emotive vocal delivery. It captures the essence of meditation, reminding us that even the smallest gestures and overlooked moments shape who we are. Conversely, “Blue Umbrella” introduces a different shade of his artistry, filled with wistful imagery and an almost cinematic essence, blending melancholy with underlying hope.

While firmly rooted in folk traditions, Beck incorporates elements of Americana, indie-rock, and singer-songwriter balladry, resulting in a sound that feels both timeless and uniquely his own. Unlike many records that tend to emphasize either softness or grit, Beck creates an atmosphere where both can coexist, allowing for reflection without losing momentum. With this release, W.C. Beck not only strengthens his reputation as a master storyteller but also reminds us that even in a fast-paced world, there is profound power in living quietly.

The album fosters introspection by exploring themes of solitude, ephemeral love, and the beauty that can be found in stillness. It transcends the notion of a collection of songs and is more akin to a journal, a quiet yet deeply expressive chapter in Beck’s musical journey. “A Mostly Quiet Life” serves as a compelling offering, ideally suited for late-night listening or those moments when life slows down enough to be genuinely appreciated. Beck illustrates that quiet doesn’t equate to stagnation; rather, it is within these hushed intervals that music can resonate most powerfully.

For more information about W.C. Beck, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM W.C. Beck’s ”A Mostly Quiet Life’‘ on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH W.C. Beck |Instagram | Facebook |