J Streitz and the Long Odds "Light Again" Album Review
Review by: Dani Erin, Writer @danierinmusic
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
If you like what we are doing, please consider supporting us on Patreon, PayPal, or Venmo.
I like when I stumble across a new artist and know very little about them. I sit back and let their album connect the dots for me. Who are they? What inspired them? Yadda yadda yadda. All I know is that I came across Light Again and I wanted to sit down with the lead singer and pour a single malt scotch. I don't drink scotch with just anybody. There is something about his voice that makes me feel like I have known him for years. It's familiar yet unique, this album pairs perfectly with a fall day and well…scotch.
Lets kick it off with his first song on the album called “Was Always in Motion”. It's an airy take on a season's change. His line “the trees are looking thin” is a perfect visual to a summer's death. It was this first song that made me pause and say “ok, who is this?” It is true one of an artist's greatest muses is nature. Maybe it's the only thing that grounds us when we usually have our heads in the clouds. I like this dude, in a way this song made him instantly relatable.
“Light Again” , the second track solidifies that Jason Streitz is a poet. It is catchy and weaves this beautiful story about living in the past yet trying to stay present. Maybe it's a song about mental health, how our minds play games with us for better or worse. We all know the big darkness is approaching so maybe it's an anthem to remind us that everything is temporary. Here's the kicker, I don't actually know what the song is about but because he is such a fantastic songwriter I stopped what I was doing and listened to his album while looking at the trees outside my window. Taking the moment in, watching the clock tick on. Coincidentally it also happens to be Jason’s favorite track on the album. When I asked him about it this is what he had to say “I love Tim's guitar intro. It just makes me feel good. The song is steadily anchored by our drummer, Jonas, and also has tentacles that venture out all over the place. I love it.”
“Habit Horse” is my favorite track on the album because I feel like every word he sings is so pronounced. It's a song that grabs you. It is a lullaby and poetry all wrapped up in a song. Through his music I am convinced he is sharing a piece of his spiritual self, that he is giving his listener morsels of hard lessons he's had to learn but perhaps you don't have to.
“Good Intentions” track 9 on the album was the underdog for me. Warning, it will get caught in your head. He makes instrumental choices that all aid in the beauty of this song. I listened to this album over and over again but always came back to this song. Sometimes the more simple the song the more it gets under your skin.
I really like that he incorporates a soft female background vocalist every so often on the album. It's like a whisper but her voice is a very nice compliment to the songs. You will hear it in “Hungry Ghost”. A nice addition and at times haunting. This song has this incredible underbelly to it, where the drums push it along like a train on the tracks. You can tell this band likes playing together, they find the ‘pocket’ which is really hard to do. So who is J Streitz & band? This is what Jason told me “We're celebrating our 10th anniversary as a band and have all 5 original band members. Tim Heinlein on electric guitar, Missy Heinlein on keys and vocals, Jonas Lader on drums and Jimmy Rogers on bass. They all write their own instrumental parts and are incredibly creative musicians and top-notch human beings. I feel very lucky to have them all in my life, both as bandmates and friends. We are a big ol' family band. Our favorite shows are daytime, outdoor gigs where our kids can all get together, run around, and have fun.”
Lastly, Jason told me “I am addicted to writing songs. It's just something that I'll always do, no matter what else is going on in my life. If I have any free time, 5 minutes or 3 hours, I work on songs.” And we hope he never stops. Light Again is an album you put on when friends come over for a nice meal and a bonfire. It has this very inclusive quality to it. It has grit and perhaps moments of darkness. Some songs make me think I am on a dirt road in the middle of farm country and other songs make me think I am suspended in the clouds. I will be pouring a single malt scotch and maybe one day J Streitz and the band will join me, that's the hope.
