We Watched the Headlights, We Watched the Stars

Why do I put off doing these cd reviews for so long? I think they intimidate me for some reason. I received a copy of We Watched the Headlights, We Watched the Stars from Archer Avenue several months ago and am just now getting around to doing a review. Sorry, guys! I promise I’ll get more on the ball with these reviews. Here we go...


You know that great time in your life where you’re young, it’s summer, you have no worries and life is all about cruising around listening to the radio, hanging out and having a few beers, and of course, thinking about members of the opposite sex? We Watched the Headlights, We Watched the Stars really transported me back to that time.

Archer Avenue’s latest effort is straight-up rock-n-roll about the simple things in life, and girls in particular. With gritty vocals, tight uncomplicated guitar solos, nice backing harmonies and a slightly Southern tinge, Archer Avenue has created a very refreshing and distinctive sound.

The tracks that caught my attention in particular were:

1) “Cop’s Don’t Care”

I was thinking about the fourth of July
When I was so happy, so happy I could die.
We sat on the hood of your father’s car.
We watched the headlights; we watched the stars.

Really takes me back...

2) “Breakdown on N. St. Mary’s”

Yep, good ol’ St. Mary’s strip...it even mentions a certain place we all know:

He’s drinking whiskey at the Rabbit on another Thursday night.

This song is about as SanAnto as it gets. It has a very Texas sound...actually it’s the closest they come to country music.

3) The cover of “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” originally by Roxy Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators.

Very cool old sixties tune and great job covering it!

If you’re not familiar with this song and would like to hear the original, there are several videos of it on YouTube. Just get on there and search for 13th Floor Elevators.

4) “She is America”

These lyrics cracked me up:

She is America; she is a shooting star.
I’m gonna see her just as soon as I can buy a car.
A Grand National, I’m saving all my cash;
I know they’re ugly but who cares ‘cause they go really fast.

So, there you go. Great job. A very enjoyable listen.

We Watched the Headlights, We Watched the Stars is available online at Archer Avenue's Record Store for only $10. You can also pick up a copy at Hogwild Records. Or if you're like me and usually download your music, it's available on iTunes and several other download services (I know I found some on Napster). Check out archeravenuemusic.com for more information on the album and Archer Avenue.

There, that wasn’t so hard...