Last year Midnite City came up with one of the albums of the year with their stunning debut and after repeated listens at Rockpit HQ it sounds like album number two is even better. It does all start a little oddly though…
‘There Goes the Neighbourhood’ opens with an edited clip of the intro from the start of Poison’s ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time’ video. I have no idea why, but from there Midnite City’s sophomore effort then cuts directly into opening track ‘Here Comes the Party’ a song with a similar ethos to that well know Poison song but a more laid back and less frenetic sound, and I’m still puzzled by the inclusion of that intro by the time the second track (and excellent first single) ‘Give Me Love’ cuts in.
Now I know vocalist Rob Wylde is a huge Poison fan and plays in a Poison cover-band as well as fronting Tigertailz; and whilst some of the songs here do have a certain Poison-like feeling about them – like for example ‘Give Me Love’ Poison isn’t my first point of reference here. Midnite City sonically are far more than that, and to me have more in common with bands like Danger Danger and Trixter and maybe even Warrant and Firehouse.
The intro to the third track ‘You Don’t Understand Me’ immediately evokes vintage Def Leppard in ‘ballad mode’ and it’s after this third track that you come to realise that not only may this ‘difficult second album‘ better their excellent debut, it might just do far more than that.
As musicianship goes the band sounds great here, and as far as production goes Pete Newdeck has done another fine job, but the real kicker this time is that Rob Wylde who has long been a song-writer that has resonated with me back to his days with Teenage Casket Company has simply excelled himself this time, failing to pen anything on this release that isn’t at very least memorable.
Great as the opening has been its the next three tracks that really elevate this release to me from the merely great to absolutely outstanding. It starts with the Power Pop Rock of ‘Life Ain’t Like This On The Radio’ a song that really brings the magic for me – and one that would have fitted right in with Wyldes’ former band and which is dripping wet with melody. It’s a classy number and my current favourite here but one that is almost immediately matched by the equally great ‘We’re Gonna Make It’ before the slow build of the wonderful ballad ‘Tonight You Are All I Need’ kicks in.
And there you have in three tracks a diverse selection that recall the best of bands like Danger Danger and Trixter at their peaks. So if that’s the kind of music that floats your boat this is most certainly the album for you. Indeed at the half way point six tracks in I’m convinced this is a classic of the genre.
‘Hard to Get Over’ that follows is another fine melodic rocker that really grows on you despite sounding deceptively simple on the first few listens and ‘Takes One to Know One’ adds further delicious bite. One of the best things about ‘…Neighborhood’ is that the album doesn’t falter at any point and the final three tracks are right up there with the rest. It all starts with ‘Heaven’s Falling’ a world class ballad that 30 years go could have ruled the radio, treading that line between Poison and Danger Danger and ending with some luscious keys. Then there’s the slick and steady rocker ‘Gave Up Giving Up’ which might have one of the cleverest choruses here. We hit the final track ‘Until the End’ far too soon though and it’s another killer song that underlines just why Midnite City should be on everyone’s must see list.
The good news is that you can just push ‘repeat’ and get it all again. The sugar is twice as sweet the second time around and by a third play you’ll be addicted.
The best albums like this back in the day transported you. You could drop a needle on the record and forget everything that ailed you, as the music kicked in the world was instantly a better place. This is one of those rare albums, it brings with it the bluest of skies and the feelings that your dreams ain’t that far away after all…
