Artist: Big City Rock
Album: Big City Rock
Label: Atlantic
Tracks: 10

 

 

“I don’t want to deal with reality/ I just want to feel with intensity…” so begins Big City Rock’s self-titled album as they list of numerous lengths they would go to/depths they would sink to  capture it.

 

Let’s get something straight, if you don’t like synth pop or new wave then stop reading now. While Big City Rock does indeed rock, they incorporate so many elements from these styles that you will never be able to get past it. Fortunately for me I really enjoy the synth sounds that were offered the first time around and probably dig them even more this time because newer bands play gritty guitars as well (a marriage made in heaven?).

 

Honestly, a lot of these songs follow the same structure. Catchy verse laced with synthesizers, synthesizer takes over for a bridge, and big choruses explode nearly forcing you to sing along. Occasionally we are treated to a slight variation such as a piano (“As Soon As I Find Out”) or maybe the obligatory over the top synthesizer bit (“Human”) or even an inspirational song leaning heavily towards the guitars  (“Touch the Horizon”), but for the most part this is a lot the same.

 

It probably sounds like I don’t like this album so let me say here that I really like this album a lot. I sing along with pretty much every song and it has barely left my CD player. However that doesn’t change the fact that this is a throwback to 1983. I loved it then and I love it now. I’m glad to see a band emerge that is actually great at this sound. Fans of The Killers, Interpol, Cyndi Lauper, Berlin, and the like will find a lot to enjoy here.