Nico Vega - Lead To Light (2014)

Los Angeles alt-rock trio Nico Vega set their sights on pop stardom, enlisting multiple producers to help craft their hooky second album Lead to Light. In the five years since their 2009 self-titled debut, they've added a pair of EPs to their catalog which saw their evolution from jagged-edged, guitar-based rockers to more of a pop act with an attitude. As before, the entry point for Nico Vega is the intense voice of singer Aja Volkman, who vamps, howls, and coos throughout this varied set which, at 15 tracks, could have benefitted from a bit more editing. Tapping Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds to co-write and produce the fun, riffy lead single "I Believe (Get Over Yourself)" along with the Blondie-esque party anthem "I'm on Fire," it would seem they've traded in their snarl for some pep in search of a radio-friendly hit. Much of Lead to Light follows suit with the Tony Hoffer (Beck, M83)-produced tracks "No Home" and "Back of My Hand" tapping into the contemporary pop zeitgeist and succeeding decently with a couple of the album's more enjoyable and melodic songs. Tim Edgar produced the remaining 11 cuts, several of which harken back to their edgier sounding early work ("Fury Oh Fury" and "Lightning"), while others like "Good" and "Lucky One" lean more on low-key atmospheric moodiness. A surprising standout is the late album track "Easier," which exudes power and confidence, melding a sort of Siouxsie Sioux electro-goth with classic Bunnymen guitar tones. Along with the ethereal, similarly goth-influenced "Protest Song," it's a shame that two of the most interesting tracks are buried so deep in an album which tries a little too hard to please everyone. Nico Vega have made a serious stab at chart success by frontloading Lead to Light with several pop-leaning tracks by hotshot producers, but their personality shines more brightly on the deeper cuts, making this a fairly uneven effort. Review by Timothy Monger