Clone bands? We’ve all heard our fair share of them. Even in our particular niche that calls itself ‘alternative’ and seeks to be an outlet for invention, replication is rife.
To an extent it’s all part of an organic process which strives towards originality. A band forms, band members discuss mutual influences and find common ground. You start off as another clone and eventually, with a healthy dose of creativity, a new sound emerges: your own.
This all makes it sound ominously like I’m about to describe Cities as a clone, but refreshingly that isn’t that case. They’ve clearly set out on this self-titled debut EP with every intention to define themselves. But the path towards definition is invariably long and fraught with pitfalls. Cities have avoided a few, stumbling into others.
The quartet from Tumbridge Wells use their various inspirations sparingly. At times you’ll hear crashing chords that roll like waves, in the vein of Thrice’s latter work. Ryan Checksfield and Andy Cuthbert craft confident, effective riffs with a predilection for drama and impact.
Elsewhere you’ll find a more damaged, vulnerable sound akin to Brand New. Checksfield’s vocal range is strong, although he swerves away from grunts and growls and finds himself more often than not amongst the higher register. He avoids Americanising his voice (loud applause).
What he doesn’t manage is to truly define himself, in terms of his lyrics or sound. Like their peers, Cities put a large emphasis on their vocals, but Checksfield’s expressions seem poorly thought out; the words don’t touch the listener but fall flatly on the ears, like diluted, filtered sentiments from a band already heard.
It’s hard to pick out an example because, presumably in seeking to avoid lyrical cliché, they avoid also any definite, obvious lyrical theme, and so much of what remains is grey and ambiguous. Epic riffs seem so lonely without epic sentiment, and that takes us back to Thrice who are so, so good at marrying the two (“you – think – they’re – selling you truth – truth – is – they’re selling you out!”).
That said, when he is called upon to push himself he answers that call admirably, such as towards the end of second track ‘Only Alive’, where he warbles in falcetto quite serenely. I’m convinced overall that this lad can, and will do better.
Fourth and final track ‘Early Hours’ is their finest effort on the EP with an absolutely thunderous intro and a catchy-as-hell chorus which is lifted into the stratosphere by their twin-guitar attack.
Cities have got me excited, all criticism withstanding. The way they are carrying themselves, shows they’re not interested in pandering to what anyone wants to hear. And whilst right now they may be treading a beaten path, they’ve got what it takes to reach their destination.
Just avoid those damn pitfalls.
3/5
‘Cities’ EP by Cities is out now.
Cities links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp
Words by Alex Phelan (@listen_to_alex)
