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The Cinema:
Self-Titled EP
Like a good movie should, The Cinema sets the scene for their debut EP as soon as the credits begin. Besides naming the five stars of the upcoming performance vocalist Carlos Pena, guitarists Josh Clevenger and Ty Smith, drummer Cody Smith and bassist Ben Jolliff the liner notes feature little more than close-ups of a deserted construction site. It is difficult to determine what the band meant for us to draw from snapshots of rusted chain link fences and the remnants of shattered windows, presumably taken in the bands hometown in Central Ohio. That is, of course, until the music begins at which point it all comes clear. Adjusting the picture with Vertical Hold, the aptly named opening track, The Cinema reveals its all-too-typical plotline: a failed relationship. With the lyrics, Tell us what you didnt see/ And all the things you didnt talk about/ In terms of what we couldnt be, the scenes of quiet desolation now represent the aftermath of Penas devastating breakup. This explains the strain in his voice, the anguished yowling heard in emo cohorts like Saves the Day. Match Penas vocals with the gloomy undertones and thick reverb of Hum, and the ending is essentially given away. There is little in The Cinema that hasnt been done before. But, in the same way that we can enjoy multiple movies with similar screenplays, a repeat performance isnt always a travesty. Audiences will walk away remembering some favorite moments the catchy chorus in Strike on Box, or the suddenly Sunny Day Real Estate quality of Clouds of Clouds. The Cinema isnt the next blockbuster, but its certainly not a flop.
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