The Rise of a City
City of Auburn returns to the music scene with “Off the Block”
After a three-year hiatus, the Mckinney, TX alt-rock outfit City of Auburn is back with their single “Off the Block”. Produced by the band, mixed by Lee Rouse and Hunter Shaw, and mastered by Kris Crummett the track is a mature evaluation of moving forward in the face of uncertainty.
every night i kindle fire
it’s always a question of where i’d be now
cause over the years i’ve seen, i’ve lost transparency
i’ve gained an age again, it’s left the space desiredare you with me now?
City of Auburn’s last release was the “Spinning” EP on September 21, 2018. A triumphant rock package, it contained the lauded track “Afterthought” which featured Stephen Christian of the band Anberlin. Since that release, there had been the grind of each band member’s 9-to-5, limits in practice and production, and, oh yeah, over a year of a pandemic. The musical landscape changed to survive the limitations imposed by COVID-19, and in those changes an uncertainty grew/grows on listeners’ attentions and venue availability.
i’m beside myself
and i should’ve known it
the best of times could always be behind me
i’m beside myself
well i, should’ve known it
but now’s the time to be..simple direction
is what i’m needing
any direction
Comprised of Michael Osborn (vocals, lyrics), Jordan Shepherd (guitars, engineer), Tommy Dickinson (bass), James Motter (synths, keyboards), and Stephen Baker (drums) there is a visual shift with the release of “Off the Block.”
Gone are the days of dark photography with hints of the band emerging from it. An entire social media cleansing has taken place making way for the return. The members come full force back into the light and start anew. Donned in white jumpsuits and photographed in a room scant of any decoration or hint of formal artistic direction, City of Auburn vocalize the struggles of their return but present themselves as willing to start again.
falling back into making terminal decisions
it’ll be the death of me
(just you watch you know i’ll be betting on it)
i’m taking all the time to write down every word
that’s in my mind and bleed it through my hands
we’ll take a chance and get up off the block again
let’s go again“living your life in past light
when right now is your next time
never get over that moment
or you’ll never see it.”yeah I don’t buy that
yeah I don’t buy it
There is a rational emotionality to the track. City of Auburn understands that the music world has forever changed, but with it comes a driving urge to pick back up and push into the fray after being away from it for so long. Behind the clean, arid guitar, driving drumbeat, and evocative vocals of “Off the Block” lies self-awareness.
Despite the real-world careers any of the members have, the love, life, and faith deep inside them are fostered by music. They will push as long as they can, knowing the future is uncertain. It is that raw honesty of the lyricism and the bravery to leap that should make any listener take notice, rock out, and cheer.
Follow City of Auburn on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Bandcamp.
