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Writer's pictureAdam Jones - MusicFarmer5
Sep 213 min read

BELIEVE THE LIGHTHOUSE presents, "Little White Houses"

Updated: Sep 22

MUSIC FARMER 5 - Review by Adam Jones

Where Melancholy Meets Majesty; The Monsters In Your Garden

“Little White Houses” by BELIEVE THE LIGHTHOUSE is a gripping alt-rock anthem that dances between haunting melancholy and soaring, euphoric intensity. From the moment the song begins, the deep synthesizer sets an atmosphere reminiscent of an ‘80s epic, carrying a sense of nostalgia and grandeur. But this is no mere retro throwback. When the ferocious guitar arpeggio enters, it ignites a tension that is both inspiring and menacing, a perfect foil to the synthesizer's rich undercurrent. The introduction of a plaintive piano line only amplifies the emotional complexity, enhancing the song’s dark beauty with a painful yet mesmerizing agony, almost as if you are about to come face-to-face with that house on the album's cover.


Vocally, "Little White Houses" is a triumph. A layered harmony—one voice soaring above, another grounded an octave below, with a third weaving an intricate middle path—creates an almost celestial aura. It’s a collision of grunge’s raw power (think Nirvana’s depth) with the driving energy of alt-pop-alt staples like Switchfoot or Keane. The harmonies, particularly in the chorus, deliver an emotional gut-punch. The repeated refrain emphasizes the monsters in the garden behind the white houses evokes both mystique and danger, symbolizing the internal demons that lurk beneath the surface of an outwardly serene setting.


The song’s structure is as cinematic as its sound. When the chorus hits, the intensity is palpable, sending a shiver through the spine as the vocals take on an even more impassioned edge. With nods to the raw, emotional grit of Switchfoot's Jon Foreman and the commanding vocal presence of Thrice’s Dustin Kensrue, the chorus grabs hold and doesn’t let go. It's a dark anthem, balancing feelings of dread and despair with glimmers of hope and resilience.


As the song builds toward its conclusion, the band lets loose in an exhilarating jam session. An intense guitar riff melds seamlessly with the relentless, upbeat drumming, while a radio-transmitted monologue, recited by a young girl, injects a chilling yet defiant twist. It’s as though, through the music, she’s standing up to the very monsters buried in the garden. This closing sequence is cathartic and unforgettable, a fitting end to a song that feels like a battle cry against inner turmoil.

 


“Little White Houses” by BELIEVE THE LIGHTHOUSE is a gripping alt-rock anthem that dances between haunting melancholy and soaring, euphoric intensity.

 

Thematically, BELIEVE THE LIGHTHOUSE's “Little White Houses” draws from deeply personal experiences. The lyrics recount the story of living in a house that symbolizes both love and darkness, a home that harbored joy but also demons. The tension between these opposing forces is palpable throughout the track, and Jason Prosser’s lyrics brilliantly juxtapose the comforting imagery of a white house with the lurking terror of monsters beneath the surface. The song brilliantly communicates this metaphor for struggling with inner conflict—convincing oneself that everything is fine while quietly crumbling inside.


BELIEVE THE LIGHTHOUSE masterfully combines alt-rock intensity with indie vulnerability in “Little White Houses.” It’s a song that sticks with you, both for its intricate musical layers and its deeply emotional resonance. Bathed in a sonic force brought forth by producer Chris Hanssen (ZED Music Group), the band’s musical messaging punches through in an intensely dark, uplifting, and epic way - placing them firmly in the company of today’s most exciting alternative acts while staying true to their own dynamic and personal sound.


This truly is alt-rock with SOUL—a story of fighting monsters—both literal and metaphorical—and coming out the other side, changed, but for the better.


Check out "Little White Houses"

by BELIEVE THE LIGHTHOUSE below!👇






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