Even in a scene studded with phenomenal bands, The Jacklights have been one of Boston's standout musical groups in recent years. Playing '90s-style melodic punk with an alt-rock influence, the trio appeals to my nostalgia for my youth without ever allowing itself to get stuck in the past. Most significantly, singer/guitarist Nilagia McCoy is a remarkable lyricist who excels at taking deeply personal reflections and making them universal and relatable. McCoy and bassist Mike Allen have had this band going strong since 2019. With Mike Gaylord now on drums, The Jacklights are sounding as good as ever. I like how McCoy's writing is sometimes informed by season with band releases perfectly timed to fit the vibe. Having already released "Winter" and the summery Drift a couple years back, The Jacklights now treat us to their "fall seasonal" EP. And there's nothing more I love than all things fall seasonal (I'd be a liar if I told you I wasn't typing these words while sipping a pumpkin spice crème).
On these four tracks, McCoy uses horror-themed lyrics as metaphors for what we endure when we cope with heartbreak and major upheavals in our lives. Musically, these songs don't stray far from what The Jacklights have always done so well. Yet they do find the band spreading its wings a little — going a little darker and heavier at times in a way that perfectly suits these songs. "Haunted" is a reminder that the worst kinds of ghosts are often the memories we're not ready to let go of. "Past Tense" revisits a similar theme using horror movie tropes. "Anniversary" veers away from the horror metaphor and reflects on a relationship that's still existing yet clearly doomed. It's a devastating song, and I love every second of it. The title track closes the EP on a more optimistic note, playing off the horror flick cliché of the "last woman standing." "This might be the end of the world/But I could be your final girl" could be the ultimate romantic couplet for our times.
I often speak of not being a big horror guy because real life is already scary enough. Final Girl confronts real-life horror and cleverly couches it in spooky metaphor. McCoy and her band mates manage to have great fun with these very serious songs, and I eagerly await the opportunity to take in this EP while walking after dark on a crisp autumn night.
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