It seems like they come along like buses – you get nothing from Drive Thru in absolutely ages and then they go and form a new label in Rushmore and release a myriad of brand spanking new bands on the world. The Track Record‘s first EP certainly showed plenty of promise, but I’m not quite so convinced by Self Against City. They’re a very melodic band – the production is very smooth and polished and there are plenty of memorable vocals – but this is an often plagarised sound, ironically probably made famous by Drive Thru themselves a couple of years back. Imagine The Starting Line crossed with Halifax and you’ve about nailed SAC to a tee.
This six track EP is a taster of what the band are all about and in the main it shows a lot of promise. ‘The Process (Tonight)’ and ‘All This Time’ are very strong, while the EP’s title track is another song which will have you singing along in no time. But there’s a definite sense that you’ve heard all of this before, no matter how pleasant it sounds. Self Against City‘s lack of originality will really cost them dear if they cannot forge their own sound by the time an album is due to drop – there are already so many bands out there that do this kind of thing far, far better. ‘Take It How You Want It’ is good for what it is, but the band will need to raise their game if they intend to match what some of their Drive Thru stablemates have gone on to achieve.
www.selfagainstcity.com
Rushmore Records
Paul