Tony Molina has been following a fascinating trajectory on his recent string of releases. Early entries like the 6 Songs EP and Dissed And Dismissed LP combined the best bits of Weezer/Teenage Fanclub-style power-pop with Tony’s smart, touching songs, shredding guitar pyrotechnics and ironclad DIY HC roots. 2016’s Confront The Truth EP flipped the script in a big way, leaving the guitar crunch behind in favor of mostly acoustic arrangements that owe as much to Horizontal-era Bee Gees and the Fanclub’s mellower moments as they do to Georges Harrison and Martin. Tony Molina plays a special release show for Hit the Lights, on August 7th, at the Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco, California.

Now Tony is back with his new effort Kill The Lights. The ten songs on Kill The Lights continue in his evolution towards stripping the songs back to reveal each one’s emotional and melodic core. But where Confront The Truth was mostly acoustic, Kill The Lights adds back some full band arrangements to brilliant effect. Album opener “Nothing I Can Say” is a lovely 12-string pop tune that would sit snugly in The Byrds’ songbook – it’s that good. “Wrong Town” is gentle and subtly wrenching, recalling prime Elliott Smith in its simple truth. “Afraid To Go Outside” expands on some of the pastoral early Bee Gees/Kaleidoscope/Tomorrow flavor revealed on “Confront,” aided by some great organ lines. “Now That She’s Gone” features some gorgeous guitar finger-picking, while “Jasper’s Theme” is a rootsy mid-tempo groover that leans towards Gram-era Byrds.

Tony Molina
Kill The Lights
[Slumberland]
Release Date: July 27, 2018
Track List:

1. Nothing I Can Say
2. Wrong Town
3. Afraid To Go Outside
4. Now That She’s Gone
5. Jasper’s Theme
6. Give He Take You
7. When She Leaves
8. Look Inside Your Mind/Losin’ Touch
9. Before You Go
10. Outro

Tony Molina livw
8/7 San Francisco, CA – Hemlock Tavern