We Are the City

Vancouver, BC-based indie rockers We Are the City have come a long way since their 2009 debut, In a Quiet World, and nowhere is this more evident than in the loud-quiet-loud dynamics of "King David," the third track from the band's sophomore LP, Violent. Expanding upon the foundation laid by 2011's High School EP, Violent offers the most mature songwriting to date from the progressive leaning three-piece. Primarily employing energetic rhythms and evolving tonal ranges, We Are the City's less-is-more mindset succeeds where similar bands like Mother Mother and the Most Serene Republic fail, decidedly focusing on contrasting tones and loud climaxes, rather than borrowing from multiple genres to try and create a unique sound. Because of this, Violent's post-rock-indebted formula doesn't necessarily tread any new ground, evoking Kid A-era Radiohead on "I Am, Are You," Grizzly Bear's haunting melodies on "Bottom of the Lake" and Brian Eno-levels of ambience in "Everything Changes." But by focusing on their rhythmic strengths and broadening their already expansive range, Violent provides a good indication of even better things to come from the young group.