Capital Lights - Rhythm 'N' Moves

Artist: Capital Lights
Album: Rhythm 'N' Moves
Release Date: July 19, 2012
Label: Tooth & Nail Records

Rhythm 'N' Moves is the sophomore release by Tooth and Nail's Capital Lights. Following the vastly successful This is An Outrage, which was released in 2008 and had a #1 single on the R&R Christian Rock charts ("Out of Control"), the group announced that they would be breaking up for personal reasons. This was not the last that their disappointed fans would hear from them though, and on December 24th, 2010 bassist and lead vocalist, Bryson Phillips, announced that the group would be releasing one more album, though they would not be touring behind it. Here it is, nearly four years from the day that This is An Outrage was released.



Rhythm 'N' Moves is definitely different than This is An Outrage. The band has always identified itself as pop-punk and This Is An Outrage sat very solidly in that genre. The album had a much grittier and punk feel than its successor, and was fun and "poppy," yet there were always layers of controversy, irony and wit in the lyrics. Rhythm 'N' Moves, though equally fun, lacks the luster and energy that This is An Outrage had. In addition to this the punk side of pop-punk feels almost non-existent on the new album, where This Is An Outrage was led by upbeat drums, stylisticly reminiscent of ex-relient K drummer, Dave Douglas and blink-182 drummer, Travis Barker, Rhythm 'N' Moves is led by a lot more acoustic guitar, snyth and even some auto-tuned vocals. The best way to describe the album would be reserved. It certainly has its moments, particularly in "Save the Last Dance," led by a strong drumbeat and a soloistic lead-guitar line, and "Honey Don't Jump," which comes close to the meaningful lyrics that laced every song on This Is An Outrage, but it doesn't, forgive the pun, hit all the notes.

Overall: Though I am hard on it, I still enjoyed the album, which is better than no album, which is what Capital Lights fans have been waiting for. Like I said before, the music is fun. Rhythm 'N' Moves is in my car and great for rolling the windows down, turning up the volume and just going.