Canyon Lights: Breathe Easy [Album Review]

Canyon Lights
Breathe Easy
Sgt. Honeyeater Records [2025]

“From swampy riffs to soulful slow-burns, Canyon Lights make their first statement a bold one.”

Album Overview: If Canyon Lights sounds a little familiar on first listen, it may be because you’re familiar with GA-20, the electric blues band that formerly featured Canyon Lights’ guitarist/vocalist Pat Faherty and drummer Tim Carman (who also plays in Parlor Greens and his own Tim Carman Trio). And even though Canyon Lights’ debut album Breathe Easy features plenty of bluesy licks, it also colors outside the lines to incorporate elements of hard rock, a touch of psych, and a spoonful of soul that expand the pair’s musical palette in exciting ways. 

Musical Style: The band keep things simple, sticking to a basic guitar/bass/drums format throughout the record. Faherty’s playing doesn’t shy away from the blues, incorporating bottleneck slide and crunchy, blues-based riffs; but that’s just one of the elements present on Breathe Easy, where shades of 60s garage, 70s hard rock, and swampy boogie rock also find their way into the sound. Carman anchors things dependably as usual, driving the songs along with some creative fills and rhythms without getting overly showy.

Evolution of Sound: Canyon Lights’ mix of vintage and modern sounds give them plenty of potential directions to pursue in the future, particularly with the addition of new bass player Heather Gillis (who joined after Breathe Easy was recorded). It’s easy to imagine the band adding new layers into their instrumental mix, experimenting with additional genres, or simply focusing on honing their current sound.  

Artists with Similar Fire: Canyon Lights’ heavy blues-rock sound will appeal to fans of modern acts like The Black Crowes, Gary Clark Jr., and The Black Keys. But those who like a more vintage feel will also find plenty to love, particularly devotees of bands like Little Feat, CCR, and The Allman Bros. Band.

Pivotal Tracks: Every track on Breathe Easy has something to offer, but there are a few standout moments. The first three tracks (“Seventh Son,” “Late to the Ball,” and “Song Behind those Tears”) show off how much ground they can cover, something that’s emphasized by the quieter moments that arrive at the album’s halfway mark (“Drivin’ Me” and “Codeine and Caffeine”). The record’s back half is no slouch, though: songs like “Movin’ Down,” “Blood Red Moon,” and the closing title track continue to prove the diversity of the band’s songwriting and playing, covering different moods while retaining their own musical identity.

Lyrical Strength: Just like the music, the lyrics cover a range of ideas and feelings from track-to-track. Some, like “Codeine and Caffeine,” play on traditional blues tropes, while others feel more modern in their approach. Either way, the words mesh seamlessly with the gritty, hard-rocking tunes, creating a whole that feels naturally cohesive.

Final Groove: Breathe Easy may be Canyon Lights’ first album, but it feels like the product of a thoroughly road-tested act. Faherty and Carman’s chemistry is effortless, infusing the tracks with an energy and confidence that many bands can’t match, especially on a debut. At the same time, you can feel them testing the waters, ready to explore new directions in the future. Breathe Easy stands on its own as Canyon Lights’ first volley, but the potential it shows for what comes next is just as exciting.

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