Burns Bright By Photo Ops Truly Burns Bright

By Phil Hawkins

There is something about Burns Bright, the latest release from Photo Ops, that feels timeless. The album is steeping with a classic gazey pop infused aesthetic that utilizes simplicity to create something atmospheric in nature.

Photo Ops is the brainchild of L.A. based (via Nashville) Terry Price. The most devout of craftspeople, Price is on a quest toward the merciful essence of recognition when he writes songs; each line discovers a pure element of comfort, calling back to the land and to his musician mother’s love of transcendent melodies. Burns Bright reminds us how those forces are one and the same.

Burns Bright opens with the soft “Stand In The Shadows” which feels like it would fit well in a cinematic montage of sorts as it seems to encapsulate a lifetime in a matter of three and a half minutes. “When I Think Of Tennessee” follows and stays on the softer side of things further solidifying Price’s ability to find remarkable beauty in the simplicity from a musical standpoint. “You Must Not Need A Friend At All” stays the course and is lead with a more acoustic approach as it is the driving melody throughout the entire track. “The Dream Is Done” follows and has more melancholy feel to it than what has been seen on the album thus far, but manages to create that soundscape with a contrasting optimism.

“Voices Together For The Day” closes out the first half of the album as a bit of a ballad of sorts. It feels light and airy and leans in to the acoustic nature of the track’s composition. “If You Call I’ll Answer” follows and paints a picture of a long farewell between two friends (or perhaps lovers) that leaves the open ended statement of “If You Call I’ll Answer” showing that they are always there when/if needed. “Carol” has a strong ethereal vibe to it and appears to a tribute of sorts.

“Bury Me In Nashville” is a bit more upbeat than the middle section of the album, but still manages to keep things flowing with the album’s overall aesthetic of acoustic driven pop infused folkgaze. “Odd Christmas” ups the tempo even more and is the most unique track on the album. Does it fit the overall aesthetic? Yes. However, it carries a much different gravitas that seems absent on the rest of the album, which gives it that uniqueness. “When You See Something Beautiful In The World” closes out the album in grand form as it is a culmination of everything the album has embodied to this point. It has a very finite feel making it a solid bookend to the album.

Overall, Burns Bright is a solid almost cinematic album as it seems to traverse through an interwoven story from start to finish. However, at the same time each track has the ability to stand on their won without the rest of the album needing to set the stage for their individual stories.

Burns Bright is out now via paul is dead records and is available on all major streaming and digital platforms or you can order physical copies via Bandcamp.