(label)
14 June 2010 (released)
13 June 2010
Third Light have been writing together for about five years now, so it’s surprising that they’ve come up with something as clichéd and derivative as Time to Shine.
It’s all here: the angsty vocals, the stop/start structure, the cheesy bouncy riff, the shouty bit, the weedy harmonies on the chorus, the slow section. All very slick and spick and span and without a trace of irony. Anyone hearing this for the first time could conclude that Third Light are the Steel Panther of the pop-rock world. That this twaddle is being put forward on YouTube as an anthem for England 2010 should tell you all you need to know.
By contrast the flip side of this double A side, You’ve Got It All To Lose, is a lot more interesting, and hopefully more representative of their sound. A more restrained track that’s deceptively simple, with an almost laidback unearthliness quality about it. It develops through its sparse acoustic guitar and piano intro, via an understated guitar solo, slowly building to a grand symphonic climax.
The pop-rock scene is saturated and Time to Shine just doesn’t stand out from the crowd. You’ve Got It All to Lose, suggests they have more to offer, if they can be bothered.
Available to download.
