A new local indie rock scene has slowly emerged in the years since Katrina, and one of the more prominent bands in it is the City Life. With a sound that blends post-punk dance rock with pop melodies and unique song structures, the City Life has found a lean, hip rock ’n’ roll niche in a city dominated by funk and jazz. As the rock scene comes into its own, the City Life follows suit with its strong sophomore album, Gone is the World.
“There’s certainly a wider variety of music,” says keyboardist/vocalist Lucy Gossett. This is evident as the album shows Gossett, lead singer/guitarist Leo DeJesus, guitarist Tommy Delbert, bassist Aaron Souvinette, and drummer Brian Patrick Muller beginning to flex their muscles with both harder rock and softer ballads alongside their dance pop/rock signature sound.
Planning for Gone is the World began as the band was wrapping up its debut, 2006’s What’s That Sound? “It was the practice after our last CD-release party where we started talking about album number two,” recalls DeJesus. The album took twice as long to complete, but the band feels like it’s twice as good. “The songs are more mature. We learned a lot since the first time, and it shows,” says DeJesus.
“Our musicianship was definitely way better for this album,” says Souvinette, “The production got better, Leo got better, everybody got better.”
The band and producer/engineer, Loyola composition professor Dr. James Paton Walsh, decided that a change in scenery was in order for the second effort and opted to record in Henderson, Louisiana instead of Walsh’s Uptown home studio where they worked on the band’s debut. The new surroundings gave them “more sound control and a better environment,” DeJesus says. “Plus, it was fun.”
While the band sounds more confident on Gone is the World, the lyrics convey a darker tone. “Musically, the songs are happy and upbeat,” says Souvinette, “but lyrically, they are depressing.”
“Watch me,” jokes DeJesus, the band’s lyricist. “Keep me away from sharp objects.” When trying to come up with a theme for the dark content of the album, Gossett offers the best suggestion: “Life’s bad, but get on up and dance.” As far as motifs go, sometimes simplicity is king.
Look out for an album release party for Gone is the World near the end of March.
