LongRoad – Faith In Greater Things?
Release Date: 15th September 2023
Harking back to the sounds of the nineties and noughties, Faith In Greater Things? is the second studio album by the American rockers LongRoad. A little overdue with more than 16 years between the debut This Too Shall Pass and this release. A long time even by today’s standards. The album features 12 songs that together feel like an amalgamation of many styles of rock from those missing years and beyond.
From the very start of ‘New Song’, perhaps the most apt name for a song that has been away for so long, you can feel that this is going to be a really nice listen. There aren’t any genres being smashed, nothing that will change the landscape of music for years to come, just a bunch of mates making the music they love. ‘Breathe’ is a track heavily set in the 90s where grunge was beginning to peter out and even those bands that were at the heart of it were taking a more alt-rock approach to new music. Vocally here it’s like being teleported back through the decades, similar to the following track ‘Inspired’.
Faith in Great Things? is littered with songs that are just a little bit like those bands you used to listen to. ‘Have To Hold’ has REM vibes for sure with bands like U2 represented in there too, though there’s probably a bit too much guitar on show for them. ‘Commotion’ being a prime example of this. A proper old school rock track where you can feel the need for the song to stop half way through so the frontman can have a chat with the crowd. This is possibly the most essential song on the album, though ‘Crash’ up next gives it a run for its money with some dirtier rock coming through here.
In truth, this album is more than just a bit of a throwback. Faith in Greater Things? is a really nice Autumn listen but one that will do a great job on a road trip with the windows down and the sun blaring too. It’s an all-rounder that has that timeless feel to it thanks to the variety of tracks within. Sure all of them are heavily based within ‘rock’ as a genre but this is no one trick pony. You can pick up some LongRoad merch yourself from their shop.