December saw the release of the fiery new Really Great song “Skateboard Amp,” which we were lucky enough to premiere. Now, the Allston-based power-pop group is back with their full sophomore album, and we’re again delighted to host the premiere. Be The Light On is a ten-track tale of personal agency, told through a melding of indie, punk and power-pop.

The first track on Be The Light On really acts as a mission statement for the record that follows. “Story” is barely two minutes, dissected right at the halfway point. The first half of the song has an almost suspiciously quaint start, with the opening lyric “I want to tell a story.” The second half of the song is largely instrumental, with some genuine guitar shredding. These two elements are separate in “Story” but combined throughout the other nine tracks, as the album follows some richly human lessons in self-improvement and removing yourself from harmful situations. Although these songs are largely fast and loud, they’re optimistic tunes. And while they’re first-person tales, they’re very applicable to any of us who have found ourselves in tough, degrading spots. 

Be The Light On is a well-balanced album, sonically. It’s got punk bruisers (“Streetlight”), indie tunes (“Ride”) and slow songs (“If We Talked”). The influence of indie-punk artists like the Menzingers and Jeff Rosenstock permeate this album at points, where a number of songs manage to be high-energy without necessarily having standard punk tempos. There’s group vocals and ska licks on “Way Out” that contrast with traditional power-pop. “If We Talked” feels kind of like a daydream, and the follow-up “Rescue From Without” is a jangly tune that gets very poppy. The whole is a lot more adventurous than the parts here, as most songs branch out of the power-pop/emo base in some unique way. It makes for a balanced listen where everything still feels comfortingly familiar. “Streetlight” is an early stand-out, because it brings high-octane energy to kick the album into full gear. The song is not quite 90 seconds, and sets the tone that Really Great aren’t afraid to mess around. When you contrast it with the breezy, six-minute “Rescue From Without,” with funky guitar and a relaxed tempo, you get the full spectrum of the Really Great canon.

This is also a guitar-focused album from start to finish. “Story” has pure shredding, “Skateboard Amp,” “Sex Thoughts” and the closer “The Champion of Things Becoming” all benefit greatly from upfront and creative guitar licks, and “Morning” has a fun guitar line that hints at americana. All ten songs have a focus on guitar rhythms, licks and riffs, which also set Really Great apart from a lot of vocal-heavy power-pop groups. 

These aren’t just well-written songs, the band has some magicians working behind the glass, too. The album was recorded and mixed by Matt Schimelfenig, who has worked with acts like Gladie and Slaughter Beach, Dog, and this pedigree shows. The mastering was done by Heather Jones and Jared Taylor from So Big Auditory – who have worked with the likes of MJ Lenderman – and this powerful combination brings out a specific sound that is nostalgic for the surf-punk heyday of the mid-2010’s but updated for today. The production is largely very crisp and warm, highlighting the optimism present in the songwriting. 

Be The Light On is out through Disposable America. The album can be streamed below, or wherever music is streamed. Really Great are playing an album release show at O’Briens Pub in Allston on February 6th, with Miss Bones and Harmony’s Cuddle Party. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased here.