After spending countless hours on youtube,myspace and facebook, looking for new bands. I stumbled on InVouge records with a very wide sounding roster, but from all the metal core and post punk bands emerged The City Lights. A pop punk band hailing from Columbus Ohio, with sounds running parallel to the likes of A Day to Remember and Four Year Strong, but a with more youthful approach. Most bands within the same scene don’t differ themselves amongst the rest, The City Lights manage to pull of a new fresh sound that breathes in life to the genre that many people thought was going to die with their debut In It to Win It.
The album beings with the cleverly titled intro song “Intro” that has the typical gang chant through the 50 second track, it gives a mindset is going to have impactful lyrics that have been heard before, but that’s okay it’s a part of being true the whole “I’d rather hang out with my friends” thing which plays a large role throughout LP. The single titled “Where have you been” shows how the band can progress their sound so quickly within three songs, adding catchy chorus that both main vocalist Oshie Bichar (who can run against the heavy weights in the scene) and Jeremy Smith guitarist that share the stage with both complementing each other adding in the perfect mix. The fan favorite Lawnmower that appeared on their EP in 2008, is perfect teenage break up song that anyone can relate too even though its short; it’s one of the stronger song off the record. On the later part of the album you can hear influences of early Fall Out Boy (see Reinventing the Wheel to Run myself over with) with soaring guitar work and dual vocals plus anthem sized choruses.
InVouge did the right thing of signing them on their roster. The band has some creative dynamics that helps them boost their debut. With that being said, being a debut they’re allowed to make mistakes (namely putting Caleb Shomo in a song) but the album mistakes are hardly noticeable. The album has some creative lyrics gives hope to listener that scene isn’t going anywhere for a long time, and they have a very unique sound for being their debut album. Check out the City Lights on tour throughout North America during the winter and spring.
RIYL: A Day To Remember, Four Year Strong.
