Silence In The City opens with a love song; that is, a song about
love. It’s titled “Love Can Seriously Damage Your Heart,” and is an interesting
song for a married couple to use to kick off their new album. “Love is the blessing, love is the curse/Is it
for better, is it for worse?/Make you crazy, even insane/Love can seriously damage
your brain/Making a promise, taking the vow.” It has a good bluesy edge. It
is followed by a pop song titled “Neon Signs,” with Linda on lead vocals. This
song features some excellent lyrics, with certain lines standing out, such as
these: “I’m changing to another station
where I can hear you breathe” and “Closer
to sanity than you ever were.” This song has something of a 1980s vibe to
it.
The band then gets bluesy with
“Everybody’s Been A Fool,” with Mats taking lead vocal duties. It starts with
lyrics from those trusted blues subjects: “You’re
on the street/You got no money/You got no job/You got no honey/Pick up your
guitar/And start to play/Everybody just walks away.” Partway through this
one, there is a cool and kind of sexy blending of the two voices, the harmonica
providing a third voice. Something about this song reminds me of some of Leonard
Cohen’s late work. So yes, I love this track. It’s one of my favorites on this
album, and it does have a positive bent in lines like, “So when you think you’re on your own/Don’t forget you’re not
alone/Everybody’s been a fool.” Lighthouse Sweden then turns toward country
with “Easier To Lie,” with Linda on lead vocals. She gives a great vocal
performance here. The song has a country pop feel, fitting for lines like “My life
feels like a country song.” This is a song that really grew on me. “Now you’re asking me, am I all right/And you
hear me say I’m fine/Oh, why is it easier to lie?”
“Hole In My Soul” has kind of a
disco beat and a bit of a funky edge. Wow, these guys dip into all sorts of
musical territories. And yes, this one is fun. Linda’s vocals here have a kind
of Pretenders thing happening. And the second time she sings, “I got the blues now,” we get a bluesy
guitar lead, as if cued, as if obliging her. They follow that with a lively country
song, “Silver & Gold,” that features some good moments with saxophone. Then
“Silent City” has a cool western sound and another wonderful vocal performance.
This song provides the album’s title in the line, “Silence in the city when I walk with him.” There is something sweet
and pretty about this song that I really like. “The things I see, the things I feel all took me by surprise/I just want
to listen and look into your eyes.”
Mats then takes lead vocal
duties on “We Used To Be Lovers,” which has a cool vibe. “And I know your life has taken its toll.” I like this song a lot,
but perhaps my favorite track is “Can’t Find My Way,” which is a fun, upbeat
folk rock tune, again with Mats on lead vocals. While the sound is very
positive, the main line of the song is “I
can’t find my way to your heart anymore.” They stay in the folk and country
realm with “Window To The Sky,” with Linda on lead vocals. “Please don’t ask, please don’t tell/Plenty
of people go through hell/Couldn’t tell the truth from the lies/Looking up at
the sunny sky, I really want to cry.” The album then concludes with a beautiful,
moody pop song, “Angel,” with Linda again on lead vocals.
CD Track List
- Love Can Seriously Damage Your Heart
- Neon Signs
- Everybody’s Been A Fool
- Easier To Lie
- Hole In My Soul
- Silver & Gold
- Silent City
- We Used To Be Lovers
- Can’t Find My Way
- Window To The Sky
- Angel
Silence In The City was released on CD and vinyl on April 22, 2017.
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