Originally Posted by HTL570

city lights is still a young band, the lyrics will come in time. i really like how catchy this is.

I agree. They're a fun band, although the songwriting lacks. But their sound is something I'd expect from a first release. Perfect spring/summer tunes.

I have to say that "Confessions of an Escape Artist" is amazingly catchy.

i think the drum replacement probably had to do with the major cost for studio time. im assuming a young band like this just getting started didn't really have a whole lot of money for studio time and the band did what they could. i think the recording quality was way better than most bands in this stage.

Originally Posted by Klatzke

Or a single band from the area, trust me.

Couldnt' agree more. And that's coming from a Columbus native.

Originally Posted by bobcatbob18

Couldnt' agree more. And that's coming from a Columbus native.

Yeah, I'm about an hour and a half out of Columbus/ an hour from Dayton.

I like a few locals but not a single one is "exploratory."

Originally Posted by Klatzke

Yeah, I'm about an hour and a half out of Columbus/ an hour from Dayton.

I like a few locals but not a single one is "exploratory."

Most of the bands I know from there are either metal, whiney emo, or bland pop. I think we can both agree what City Lights falls under.

RIYL: Van Wilder lolol

Originally Posted by Klatzke

Or a single band from the area, trust me.

false

see: this is my suitcase

Playing with these guys this weekend.
This review was very well written.

Originally Posted by Klatzke

Or a single band from the area, trust me.

aa! ?

Originally Posted by Handraa

aa! ?

Lol great one.

Originally Posted by Klatzke

Lol great one.

I could just keep going on and on.

Sorry it took me a while to get back to this, guys - for some reason I wasn't receiving notifications about it.

Originally Posted by mybreakingpoint

great review, dave, but doesn't sound like something i'd particularly enjoy haha

i like the analogy about Columbus & exploring at the beginning, that was clever lol. nice job.

Thanks, Nathan - I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Anton Djamoos

They got rid of that lame neon myspace outfit and picture. That's a step in the right direction.

It truly is. I hated that picture.

Originally Posted by bobby runs

Wow what I read was great. Love the opener and the talk about"Night On the Town." The song is a huge guilty pleasure of mine.

Me, too.

Originally Posted by JUSTaCHAboi

this is a phenominal ep. the lyrics are cheesy but thats the point...they're suppose to be. the music is absolutely great. oshie is one of the most amazing musicians and song-writers out there.

Now, now - let's not get carried away here.

Originally Posted by fadedmemories

RIYL: Van Wilder lolol

Originally Posted by SKYSCRAPERS

Playing with these guys this weekend.
This review was very well written.

Thanks.

Likely no one ever reads this comment, owing to the age of this review...which was well written, and left little room for argument with the opinions or comments it elicited. Here's my take:

Walked into Victory's in Columbus a few years worth of Tuesdays ago. There was a band playing that blew me away named "Pay The Girl". And I listen to their CD, only to find that the crisp melodies and powerful dynamics had been diluted into something that sounded like a bad Matchbox 20 cover band.

Which has what to do with City Lights, or their punk bent? Not much, except I got an introduction to both last night by walking in on their practice in a dark club. You can tell me that the styles of the drummer, and the kid playing the white Les Paul (Joey?) are derivative: I wouldn't know or care. These kids can flickin' play.

Listen to the recorded tracks, and the same production polish has been over-used as Dave suggests. On stage, the the sharp edge of every tune was gleaming. Vocals were full of the abandon I would expect from a band which carries the "punk" stereotype, and boosted every tune with just that much more fun. The mix at this practice lacked a fat bottom end, which is all the more reason I'm driving about an hour to hear City Lights at a show tonight. I'm thinking there are more guilty pleasures to be enjoyed than the practice, or their recorded tracks, have reflected so far.

Label me a novice, that's cool. I spent the last couple of weeks listening to mediocre cover bands and maven metal masters in Columbus: the lack of inspiring originality has been well polished by the comments that preceded mine. Maybe tonight the rough diamond brings the most lustre.

Refuel, Newark Ohio, TONITE, opening bands start at 6:00 PM. I'll be getting there early to check out the soccer mom parade while they truck in fresh girlies for the band. Some things in life are a little too new and fresh for me...I got standardz you know. Hope City Lights can get me up like a ride in the back of a minivan with Amy's mother.

Drew blank

And in the aftermath, I have no tally for the following equations:

Why does a band this good play in a dump like that?
Why is there concern about over-saturating the Columbus market, when I can't find any bar crawler/music types who have heard of City Lights?
What do you mix with vodka to make an AbsolutePunk?