The City and Skyway sound a lot like the parts they're comprised of: `90s emo trying to delicately push forward into the new millenium.

[REDACTED]Believe it or not, these are current and ex-members of Dashboard Confessional, Lifetime, the Promise Ring, Hey Mercedes, Limbeck and Maritime.[/REDACTED] The music on this particular album, Everything Looks Worse in Black and White, doesn't quite match up to what you'd expect from dudes who at least associated with those dudes, but it's honed well enough -- solid, no-frills rock in the accessible Gameface / Sense Field sense.

It's this plaintive style that works just enough to enjoy and not be offensive in any manner. No Motiv might be another sensible comparison, as the chorus of "In November" ("youuu spin me 'ro-o-o-o-ound") sounds practically identical to the "gave your heart away-e-way-e-way-ay" line in No Motiv's "Broken and Burned." Another probable RIYL could be the less impressive Waxwing stuff, with full-bodied rock songs that could benefit from a little fat trimming and many more dynamic moments. There's shades of something greater and more progressive in "Killing Pill" and more yearning melodies in "Doctor, We Need Healing" (and even some quasi-screams), but they're very brief flashes.

Everything Looks Worse in Black and White clearly pulls from influences that were underappreciated in the first place, but hopefully the City and Skyway can get at least as much notice as their songwriting imaginably improves with time.

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I Thought I'd Never Lose My Mind
Killing Pill