Gold Star’s Headlights U.S.A.

Who would have guessed that Bruce Springsteen would once again be a hip reference? 13 years fresh off The Gaslight Anthem’s archetypal The ‘59 Sound, everyone from Jack Antonoff to the Killers is resurrecting the Boss’ anthemic brand of Heartland rock storytelling. Enter Marlon Rabenreither’s Gold Star and the five soaring melodies of Headlights U.S.A., moored by the LA singer-songwriter’s studied cool and detached vocal delivery that only serves to intensify his bona fides. Opener “Surrender” gallops with the splendor of a well-oil vintage cruiser traveling down the interstate in the wee small hours of the morning, while the title track exploits an aching guitar vamp to mollifying effect. The towering guitar lead of “Ultraviolet” is one of the EP’s high points, as are the hazy, swirling harmonies that lift the dreamy “Heaven Motherfucker” to dejectedly celestial heights. The pedal steel-buoyed “Isolation Blues” proves slightly less compelling, but satisfyingly caps a strong outing of worthy songs from Rabenreither destined to soundtrack countless night drives.

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If you like Headlights U.S.A., check out:

• Take The Sadness Out of Saturday Night by Bleachers

• Pressure Machine by The Killers

• The River by Bruce Springsteen

• “Don’t Go Putting Wishes In My Head” by TORRES

• Lost In The Dream by The War on Drugs