All credit to City Stereo for making this EP available as a free download. However, it’s just really, really, really bland. There’s nothing hugely wrong with it, it’s just nothing new, nothing exciting and it’s not that well done – just very average. Vocally the band seem to be a little hit and miss as some notes are missed and others are spot on. So when the band try and go a little out of their range it doesn’t work. They also try some really strange things – are those really robotic vocoded backing vocals on ‘Sleep Tonight’?!
The City Stereo remind me a little of This Providence crossed with something which is straight up pop. There’s an attempt at a solid chorus in each of the four tracks and that’s to be commended, but none really stick out. The riffs seem a bit weak at times, probably as the quality of the recording isn’t that hot – and if you’re going to be a pop-punk band you really need to be as slick as possible. I don’t mean to have a total downer on this band but there are just a lot of similar bands out there right now who are better. There’s certainly talent on show but I think a lot of work is needed if the band will take it to the next level.