Word of a brand new band called Sixteen Cities has been floating around in the Christian music industry for quite some time, and besides a basically unknown pre-debut EP, this band is introducing their music to the public green from Portland, and all the hype that comes with a well kept secret is at their back. Well, now that their self-titled album is released, this five-some group is revealing that they’re talented enough, and do deserve some note for effort, but their tunes just aren’t worth the wait. Similar to this January’s release promotion of newcomers Hearts of Saints, their feel is top notch, but their lyrics and melodies put together don’t hit the mark, at least not in fulfilling fashion.
The disc begins on an upbeat note with the pop/rock piece, “Just Wanna Dance,” and even after just hearing the title, one word came to mind: cheesy. Not to be negative, but when you see the word dance at the top of the list, is doesn’t give you a great first impression when this is supposed to be the next big thing. But don’t give up on them yet, there are still certainly some great music here. The next track “Save Me From Myself” is better, filling out with a big chorus and some catchy hooks, this one is a likely radio hit, and will soon be a fan favorite as well. The lead single is following up, and things look bright as “Sing Along” pumps a near perfect guitar driven piece that not only outdoes the other two musically, but also feels natural lyrically as well.
While the CD has a fast paced tempo throughout, and though SC’s sound doesn’t expose it well, this band tackles some hefty material as well as having some fun. The final song “Winter” features a pleading chorus, asking God: How did I ever get this broken / I never meant to fall this far / I feel like I’m completely frozen / Can I find a way back to where you are. I was about halfway through that I realized that this group isn’t bad at song writing, it was just the way they presented it that was lacking. The lyrics have emotion in themselves, but the poppy beats and electric driven style does not fit the underlining message. It isn’t a repairable mistake right now, so it probably won’t change. But if this band could throw in some more mellow flavorings, their sophomore attempt may end up much better, and they might find more success as well.
So wrapping things up, Sixteen Cities has a lot ahead of them, both in music and learning experiences. The pros: they have a fun sound, their songs do have good words and their future has a silver lining. The cons: they’re style and overall message clash and the songs all sound similar and get monotonous. It’s your choice. I say a few are worth your time, but the rest you may as well leave out of your iTunes cart. Like so many new artists these days, this group has potential, but it goes for popular instead of depth and originality. ~ Christian Lingner
P.S. If you want a list of my favorites, comment and I’ll post them below.
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