Review Summary: It's a good debut, but I don't think the band has decided who they are yet.
City Lights is a hardecore/Pop Punk band from Columbus, Ohio. They signed to Invogue records and released their debut album In It To Win It.
Let's begin with the intro. Very simple chugging riffs with gang vocals that lead into Hangout, which is one of the most poppy songs but definitely one of the best. And we go from there through a couple very post-hardcore songs.
There's something to be said about the writing on this album. Everything is pretty unique and different. Even when their chugging, vocalist Oshie still goes strong with his very punk-ish clean vocals, a lot like I Call Fives. They frequently use D-beats (or other variations of it) most notably in, Trophy Room, What It Takes and Lawnmower.
Half-way through the album we reach Trophy Room. This song is outstanding! This is the band's strongest sound. This I could hear on the radio. it's almost got an Offspring sound. I just wish they had more songs like this one.
Other songs on the record like: Just In Case, My Entire Life and I Made A Song On Garage Band have a lot of chugging. And, yes, its good chugging, but chugging. It's not the bands strongest point. Some of those songs just seem like fills for the better songs.
The last song on the record is What It Takes which is also by far the best song on the record. Hardcore and fantastic.
It's a good debut, but I don't think the band has decided who they are yet.
Recommended tracks: Trophy Room, Lawnmower, What It Takes.
