Vinnie Caruana–‘City By The Sea’ EP (Released 5 February via Run For Cover Records)

Vinnie Caruana, frontman of punk icons I Am The Avalanche and seminal post-hardcore band The Movielife, releases his debut solo EP ‘City By The Sea’.

The 6 track release, produced by Steve Choi from RX Bandits, is not exactly the normal fare, whatever that is these days. Opening song ‘Somehow The World Keeps Turning’ the eager listener is greeted with acoustic guitar and partially blown orchestrations, before anyone gets too nervous, Vinnie Caruana vocals really  hit home, they resonate, each line delivered straight forward, laying down the lyrics like they once belonged to some more pumped and dynamic; but the is no mistaking the heartfelt and emotive ‘Boy, You’re In Heaven’ lyrically – totally get it, musically I am not such a raving fan. By track 3, Vinnie lays down another good vocal over stripped back musings, suitable for a CSI-style montage complete with the lingering pull out shoot, eyes to the horizon and fade to titles,  To Be Dead And In Love not doubt deserves better understanding, but we press on.

And so to the EP title track ‘City By The Sea’ is a positive, belted out song,  in this EP’s  acoustic take on all ‘things’, be it –  post Sandy, living by the sea, relationships, the voice and the narrative  has not changed unrecognisably from early days, just the musical delivery; Take ‘Kingwood’, otherwise enjoyable, but I don’t get the drum-machine, even if it was only composed using Pro-studio software, there is no need not to take more care.  Still it  a well written EP, musically it’s ok, lifted out of the ordinary by Vinnie Caruana’s  writing and vocal delivery. ‘City By The Sea’ in a post Frank Turner world,  is a worthwhile release. 7.8/10
Steve Janes

Stream new song “Somehow The World Keeps Turning” here:

For dates visit: http://acousticbasement.tumblr.com