The City On Film is the post-Braid/Hey Mercedes work of one Bob Nanno, who is apparently something of a legend in the late-'90s emo scene. At the hand of such skill, all the tracks are catchy in their own way, but I can't see them being very memorable to anyone, certainly not in the way emo was to its fans when it first developed. Carrying a sense of being ten years late to the prom, "Pony's Last Trick" and "You're Gonna Need that Patience Soon" are the most banal tracks here, both exhibiting something of a frail attempt at rocking out old-school. Nanno, at least under this nom de guerre, is far superior when he's pared down and acoustic with a hint of random field recordings, namely on album opener "Mary, I'm ready" and its alternate-take instrumental "Conclusion." But, as is usual with most emo projects I've run across, the question of whether this CD was made more for Bob's own release or for our enjoyment remains to be answered. No harm in it, either way.
1. Mary, I'm Ready
2. Pony's Last Trick
3. Astray! Astray!
4. You're Gonna Need That Patience Soon
5. Well, It Goes Like This
6. Conclusion
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