“To me, this is an ok album that I doubt I’ll be playing much in the future. But the potential is there for future releases.” That was last two sentences in my review for British glamsters Midnite City’s second album There Goes The Neighbourhood from 2018. The first sentence still stands. I haven’t given the album all that many listens since it came out. I haven’t given their 2017 self-titled debut any thought at all since it came out. Fact is, I didn’t even realize until now that the band has released two more albums – Open Invite (2019) and Itch You Can’t Scratch (2021). If the last sentence still stands remains to be seen. It’s not that I dislike the band but the music just didn’t have the IT I’m looking for. Too middle of the road, too bland, not much of an identity and the production felt budget. So why even bother with album # 3 then? Well, as I wrote, the potential is there and I just don’t give up on potential. Besides, three time’s a charm, right?
The opening intro “Outbreak” is dark with industrial noises and I’m wondering if the band has changed in style. However, the opening “real” track “Ready To Go” tells us that’s not the case at all. It’s an 80’s Arena Rock belter, uptempo with crunchy riffing, lush keyboards and big backing vocals where every melody comes with a hook and a huge chorus Desmond Child would’ve given his right nut for. I’m taken aback a bit because this is a splendid 80’s rocker where all the pieces fit. It’s the same thing with “Someday”, an 80’s AOR smelling Bon Jovi meets Danger Danger piece with hooks enough to sell. An in-your-face guitar meets slick keyboards on a live-friendly rhythm and the chorus is massively sing-along pleasing. Brilliant.
The semi-ballad and single “Hardest Heart To Break” is a time-machine back to 1987. It’s close to a power ballad and sounds like something Bon Jovi and Def Leppard could have written together. Smooth melodies in a glossy suit with a melancholic melody-arrangement and a massive chorus that takes me back to the days of MTV when ballads like this were all over the air-waves. Cheesy? But of course but it’s so damn contagious it’s impossible to resist. Great stuff. Fluffy and pink-tinted, “Good Time Music” is another 80’s retro, AOR smelling arena-rocker with a party-rock vibe that brings care-free summer nights of youth to mind. It’s poppy and infectious and the chorus-hook is immense. Good stuff.
“All Fall Down” is an upbeat and driven pop-fueled rocker that’s total 80’s. Swedish Melodic Rock outfit Crazy Lixx seems to be the main influence without going carbon-copy at any time. Big guitars, big keyboards, layered backing vocals, hooks everywhere and a big live feel with uplifting melodies and another glueing chorus takes the song for the win. Very good. Leading single, the 80’s sounding pop-rocker “Girls Gone Wild” takes Danger Danger, Bon Jovi, H.E.A.T, Crazy Lixx and Crazy Nights era Kiss and throws them in a blender and pushes go. It’s catchy, groovy and happy-go-lucky with a blipping 80’s synth, party vibes and a sticky refrain that sounds like something Desmond Child has dug up from his vaults. Terrific.
The upbeat yet held-back “Beginning Of The End” is a semi-ballad, quite cosy with a bit of a saccharine pop-feel and a guitar-line reminiscent of Def Leppard. There’s a solemn atmosphere lying all over this quite mellow track with some stellar hooks and even though the chorus might be on the slicker side it’s still very captivating and surely holds water. Good one. An ominous keyboard sets the darker laden “Raise The Dead” away, a song that takes a more uptempo and rocking road with some chuggy riffage with a robust Hard Rock outlook and holds a live-friendly structure. It’s the heaviest song on the album with a high energy level and an in-your-face refrain that’s not hitty but still does the work. I like it.
“It’s Not Me It’s You” is a big power ballad, lighter-in-the-air pleadingly with a smooth structure on an 1989 Arena Rock vibe. It’s a glueing, poppy and glossy tearjerker that would have made the guys millionaires back in the MTV days. The chorus is very catchy and grabs a hold but it’s also a bit too generic. It’s not bad at all but it doesn’t really stand out. The album ends on an uptempo groove and big, poppy AOR hooks with uplifting and positive melodies in both verses and chorus with “Like There’s No Tomorrow”. It’s a sharp-edged party rocker with a big summer vibe and infectious hooks all over the massive refrain. Talk about ending the album on a high note.
After Midnite City’s two first, in my opinion, underwhelming albums this one went for the KO right off the bat. So what’s the difference then? Well, first of all, the songs are just better – simple as that. The musical style is the same as before – the band dwells in 80’s melodic Hard Rock/ Arena Rock – and the guys doesn’t bring anything new to the table. But that’s not the point here, Midnite City is here to entertain and the album sure is entertaining. Also, the production is superior to what they’ve done before and Chris Laney’s mix make the band sound like a million bucks. The album might not change the world musically but so what, the songs are great and the band has found their identity here. The potential really came to life with this one. Next stop for me is to check out the albums I have missed.
8/10
More Midnite City reviews:
Tracklist:
1. Outbreak
2. Ready To Go
3. Someday
4. Hardest Heart To Break
5. Good Time Music
6. All Fall Down
7. Girls Gone Wild
8. Beginning Of The End
9. Raise The Dead
10. It’s Not Me It’s You
11. Like There’s No Tomorrow
CD & Festival reviews 