Review / 200 Words Or Less
The City and Skyway
Everything Looks Worse In Black And White

Self Released (2009) Sean K.

The City and Skyway – Everything Looks Worse In Black And White cover artwork
The City and Skyway – Everything Looks Worse In Black And White — Self Released, 2009

Being an objective reviewer, I will try and ignore the grossly overboard hyperbole contained in their press sheet. But this is fairly serviceable post-emo rock release from the mid-west. The guitars have flashes of hooks here and there throughout this record. The lyrics seem to have a very focused target on doctors, drugs, and the lack of healing in this world. Not sure if one of the band members works in a hospital or not. "Soaked and Numb" does a good job of presenting this worldview for the masses. I noticed that some of the members are really into the Big Guy upstairs too. Not that there is anything wrong with that. My tip is to embrace that and take it to the next level. If you're going to give a shout-out to "The Blessed Trinity" in your liner notes, then maybe it's time to rework your stage style into more of a Stryper type reality. Think it over, it may work wonders!

3.0 / 10Sean K. • September 13, 2010

The City and Skyway – Everything Looks Worse In Black And White cover artwork
The City and Skyway – Everything Looks Worse In Black And White — Self Released, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

Fangus

Emerald Dream
From the Urn (2026)

The needle drops, and there’s no introductory sweaty handshake. Fangus doesn’t care for niceties; they’re ready to get down to brass-knuckle business. With their debut full-length, Emerald Dream, the Montreal quintet has exhumed a sound that feels less like a tribute to the early '70s and more like a master tape found rotting in a damp basement behind a stack … Read more

Overcalc

Fruits of the Decision Tree
Sleeping Giant Glossolalia (2024)

Some instrumental records create atmosphere while others create movement. Fruits of the Decision Tree feels like it creates an entire environment. It’s unstable, mechanical, strangely beautiful, and constantly in motion. The solo project of Nick Skrobisz (Multicult, The Wayward), Overcalc exists somewhere between electronic experimentation, prog-level guitar precision, ambient drift, and full on sci-fi hallucination. Trying to pin it cleanly … Read more

Fangus

Emerald Dream
From The Urn Records (2026)

The needle drops, and there’s no introductory sweaty handshake. Fangus doesn’t care for niceties; they’re ready to get down to brass-knuckle business. With their debut full-length, Emerald Dream, the Montreal quintet has exhumed a sound that feels less like a tribute to the early '70s and more like a master tape found rotting in a damp basement behind a stack … Read more