Album Review

Ten City Nation – At The Still Point

• 31st Jul 2009

This band is at times an oddity in that they have a capable singer placed among the wrong musicians, or very talented musicians with a weak singer. Now the vocalist has the right idea, but just not the power behind it on the heavier tracks (like the opening number ‘Flashing Lights’). His voice is better suited to something altogether more soft as his pitch has trouble being heard amongst the noise of the rest of the band. Either that or he practise harder, or jump in the studio and cheat by raising and lowering levels.

Luckily though there is a range of songs here that toy around with all sorts of noise levels, so the more melodic better scores by far. The guitar is trying its best to be above standard, but it’s the Bass that wins out the most on this album driving a lot of the songs with perhaps too much ease.

For those who like their rock untidy like that of the Brian Jonestown Massacre then there are pleasures to be found here, but some of the material here is strictly amateur hour and needs refining in the song-writing department. Not too bad a start, but no exactly anything that will launch anyone’s career, just one to pad the CV.
Highlight track skip to “Battle Lost Battle Found” for a taste of what they are capable of.