Snob's Music: We Are The City: "In a Quiet World" (album review)

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

We Are The City: "In a Quiet World" (album review)

More and more often bands are needing to get creative to be able to finance the recording, mixing, and production of their albums. The same holds true for Kelowna, BC's We Are The City who approached fans with several ways to help them pull the money together for their debut full length In a Quiet World.

The fans shouldn't be disappointed with the end results. The trio rewarded their fans' faith with an album of eleven dramatic (on occasion over-dramatic) rock.

The most intriguing part of We Are The City is the band's musical arrangements. They manage to create a lot of vibrant sound with only three members. Most of that consists of a bold rock sound and impeccable vocal harmonies not unlike fellow Canucks Pilot Speed or melodic British bands like Keane.

However, there are no shortage of other influences on this record. Piano parts are integral to many songs on the album as is a fluid percussion style. The oddly titled "There Are Very Tiny Beasts In the Ground" stands out for the inclusion of an unexpected, yet very welcomed, World rhythm. That repeats itself with the Mariachi flavour of "Peso Loving Squid". Finally the accordion is thrown in for some down home East Coast flare on "Time, Wasted".

If the music is the strength of In a Quiet World, the vocals and lyrics are the weakness. Juxtaposing the accomplished arrangements are overwrought vocals and shallow lyrics that fall just this side of the evil "Emo" designation.

If the band can provide songwriting and singing that is merely blah rather than detracting from their stellar playing, they will truly be a force to be reckoned with.

We Are The City play Clark Hall Pub in Kingston on Oct. 1st and Arcadia in Sault Ste Marie on Oct. 13th.

Best tracks: "Time, Wasted", "My Old Friend"

Track listing for In a Quiet World: