It takes a lot of courage to enter the music industry as a solo artist. It also takes a lot of courage to do this in the struggling Buffalo music scene and still make an impression.
The Highway Beautiful's debut album "The Things that Lights Can Hide" is a breath of fresh air in what is sometimes, by local standards, a stagnant musical atmosphere fouled by clich?(c). With a mix of acoustic emo and instrumental experimentation, this album is clearly above the humdrum of local music.
Hailing from Hamburg, a suburb of Buffalo, The Highway Beautiful is composed of musician Jason Jurewicz.
Writing songs since the age of 16, this self-proclaimed "uncool" band geek spent his time as a drummer before realizing that he had promising opportunities as a solo artist.
The album has a rather quiet feel, evoking a sense of loneliness with light guitar, bass, soft string and piano arrangements. The tone is depressing. Lyrics from the song "Another Day" discuss cheerless days and lonely nights. The rest of the songs carry the same lost-love theme throughout the album.
Jurewicz brings emo to its most tame form. His music is not about angst and anger, but sadness.
Many times, his voice resembles that of Third Eye Blind's lead singer Steven Jenkins. Jurewicz's lyrics are spread over several songs in the scat-like pace of Jason Mraz. Other apparent influences are Our Lady Peace and The Wallflowers.
The instrumental eighth track called "Landscape," provides another side to the album, exploring an otherworldly sound.
"The Things that Lights Can Hide" is one of the best albums to come from hidden Buffalo talent, and Jurewicz is sure to make it big soon. The album has been distributed to several local stores and you may also buy the album online at www.thehighwaybeautiful.com or listen to samples on www.myspace.com/thehighwaybeautiful.
