It took a while for me to get into The City on Film’s latest EP, “American Diary.”
There are many reasons for this, but it’s mostly because of my own high expectations of Bob Nanna, the only singer/songwriter that makes up The City on Film.
Nanna’s name should sound familiar to indie and emo fans because he played guitar for Braid, an early ’90s post-hardcore band.
He also sang and played guitar for the post-punk band Hey Mercedes, which broke up in 2005.
“American Diary” is The City on Film’s seventh release, and only two of the six tracks bear a resemblance to the style of Braid or Hey Mercedes.
The album begins with the melancholy “Mary, I’m Ready” and it is the highlight of “American Diary” – comparable to artists Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley.
“Pony’s Last Trick” and “You’re Gonna Need That Patience Soon” share the familiar sounds of Braid and Hey Mercedes.
“Astray! Astray!” is unlike any other track in the album and definitely earns Nanna some indie cred.
When a reputable artist releases a six-track album, you expect the best.
But the 15 minute “American Diary” EP falls short, and the last two tracks made it impossible for me to appreciate the talent I knew and expected from Nanna.
