Album Notes

Fort Collins based rock band, Roe, has returned to make their ever-growing impact on the local music scene. It’s been two years since the band released their debut CD, “Frame by Frame,” and “Letters and Lights” proves to be a breath of fresh air for a music scene that needed it.

The album opens with “Come Undone”, proof of the bands versatility as the cross over into a near folk rock tone matches the sincerity of bands like The Fray. “Lucky,” “I Believe It,” and “Mayday,” begin to open up the album’s more rock and roll factor, and introduce you to guitarist and co-front man David Anderson’s vocal ability. “The Start,” is a slightly softer song that leads into more of a four on the floor groove that keeps you entranced until the very end. “Everything You Are,” takes you into the realm of seeing just how talented the guys in the band are right before dropping you into “Atlas,” one of the more lyrically masterful tracks on the album. Front man Jake Espy then reminds us why so many have fallen in love with Roe’s sound, and songs like “Breathe Easy,” as he chills your bones with the line, “…you’re breaking my heart, and still you breathe easy.” “Excuses,” is filled with keys that will make you want to get up and dance, while the guitar drives and the chorus explodes with nothing but positive musical energy. “The Show,” one of the most dramatic tracks on the album really allows you to calm down before the album knocks you off your feet with its incredible finale. Anyone who has seen Roe live before might recognize the next two tracks on the album, “Take It Away,” a more jazz based song has been revamped and introduces lead guitarist and Jake Breeding’s input into the band while brother John and bassist Nick Daniluk are showcased both in this song and the slowed down but more technical and powerful version of “Sun Don’t Shine,” which has the ability to make you fall in love with this band more than you already have at this point in the album. “Sometimes,” is a nice change of pace (albeit a slight momentum killer) while really showcasing what this band is without just electric guitars and fancy effects. “Waiting,” is the album’s final track that makes you wish the band had given you the 30 original songs that they had planned to release as two separate albums. The guitar driven, vocally solid, and heart pumping drumming song leads you into a moment that hasn’t been thought possible since “Lose My Way.”

Any way you look at it “Letters and Lights” is a work of art by a band that has progressed so much, that being considered beyond their years would be an understatement.

-Ian Mahan