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

Floating Boy

Perfect Place
Independent (2026)

Sarasota, Florida’s Floating Boy have been grinding for seven years, quietly shaping themselves into a band that lives and breathes the ethics of Fugazi (if you couldn’t tell by their track inspired name) and the emotional chaos of DIY punk. Their debut full-length, Perfect Place, is the culmination of that time. There are ten tracks of anxious, politically charged emo-punk/post-hardcore … Read more

The Brokedowns

Let's Tips The Landlord
Red Scare Industries (2025)

I've reviewed a lot of Brokedowns records over the years. First, I'll say I love the band and I honestly feel like they keep getting better. Second, I'll say that this record threw a couple of surprises at me. The band play multi-vocalist poppish punk in the school of Dillinger Four or Errth, albeit more on the angry side. There … Read more

Dumbells

Up Late With
Mind Melt Records (2025)

When I started my end of year list this year I asked my pal Joel from Portland’s Dumpies to share his best of 2025 playlist with me. Several songs caught my attention which I, in turn, went and checked out the albums from which they had come. The one that has quickly climbed up my year end list over the … Read more