Album Review: City Calm Down – Television

Maybe Blur were right, maybe modern life really is rubbish. Sure, not dying of typhoid at 22 or getting your skull caved in by a Gaul is all well and good, but realistically, there's still a lot to whinge about. And just in case their black button-ups didn't give it away, Melbourne four-piece City Calm Down are on the same page.

While their earlier style sounded a bit like Nick Cave doing Born In The USA at karaoke night, their newest release, Television, totally abandons those post-punk and new wave flavours in favour of something much poppier. And honestly? Thank god, the last thing we need is another band doing Joy Division fantasy roleplay.

With the instrumentation stripped back to just rhythm and grooves and lead singer Jack Bourke singing in a more natural and confident voice, Television really feels like a nice new leaf for these lads. While it's not about to knock out OK Computer as your go-to urban misery comfort listen, Television is a nice reminder that you aren't the only one who sits down in the shower after work sometimes.