This City Sleeps live a stones throw away from me, so it’s always good to hear some local talent. The band will obviously attract Paramore comparisons because of the fact they have a female vocalist and at times there’s a passing resemblance musically too. The opening riff to ‘When It Pours, We’ll Reign’ is a rehashed version of ‘Misery Business’, while the band’s ability to write a catchy hook certainly has a professional sound to it.
I’ll start with the good points. The EP gets off to a very solid start and there are some really catchy moments. ‘Dying Is The Day Worth Living For’ is a really good song with a very catchy chorus. It’s energetic and fun and is instant enough to have you singing along by the end of the first chorus. ‘Calling Out (The Getaway)’ is perhaps even better, although the key changes at the end are perhaps a little too ambitious. The aforementioned ‘When It Pours…’ is a good song too, even if that opening riff is a little too similar. So far, so (reasonably) good.
However, it’s not all good news. The major sticking point for me is that the vocals seem a bit flat throughout. I’ve spoken to the singer Lucinda on email and pointed this out so I hope it’s taken as constructive criticism, but at times the vocals just seem like they’re going through the motions. There’s not enough feeling, not enough energy. On ‘When It Pours…’ they’re about spot on, it’s a good vocal performance. But at times on the first two songs it’s just a bit one-paced and monotone, flat even. It’s clear Lucinda can sing so I don’t know why it happens, but I played this to a few friends and they agreed with me, that the vocals just seem, for want of a better word, lazy. I’m not a fan of pop-punk bands ending their releases with schmaltzy ballads either and ‘Seconds’ is nothing more than a token acoustic track tagged on the end of the EP. It’s not a bad song, it’s just not what the band are best at. They’re much better with a bit of energy and fun and that’s what they should stick to.
This City Sleeps can clearly write a good pop-punk song. They’ve nailed the key to structuring their songs and, in places, they pull it off well. I’d like to see Lucinda push her voice further as it times it sounds a bit monotone and flat, but if the band keep improving they could be on to much better things.