steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

Mystechs

"City Folk" CD

Omega Point Records

Genres: indie rock, comedy rock

May 3 - 9 2004

Mystechs, one of Omega Point's token bands, have come out with yet another release of their special variety of eclectic pop.  City Folk is a fun, playful disc of melody and style - though it takes cues from the likes of rock, country, metal, soft-pop, and any number of other genres, it still boasts a sound that is distinctly its own.

This lack of genre focus could be City Folk's greatest pitfall.  Sometimes this disc can be a bit disjointed, which is dangerous for Mystechs.  Potential fans could be turned off.  As well, quite a few of these songs lack truly catchy melodies.  "Good Gone Bad" is a prime example; its bland melodies are boring and completely tiresome - even some silly female backing vocals can't salvage it.  "Cannibal Feast," meanwhile, is a clever parody of heavy metal theatrics, but an abysmal lack of hooks prevents it from being truly satisfying.

Despite its shortcomings, however, City Folk boasts quite a few solid songs.  "This Is All There Is" is a funny, infectious play on the soft rock genre, juxtaposing a sensitive chorus with foul, offensive verse lyrics.  "On Some Faraway Beach" is also quite catchy, in its own soft, relaxing way.

Altogether, City Folk is a strong, funny disc.  Occasionally, it places too much emphasis on parodying other genres and loses track of its own listenability - but Mystechs can be forgiven, as they are a fairly young band.

80%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 12 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2003]