Canadian born Dallas Green is the master mind behind City and Colour. The name City and Colour comes from his own name: Dallas a city, and Green, a colour (color for the Americans). Most people know Dallas as the clean singer in alexisonfire but Dallas has been doing solo work and writing material as early as the age of 18. Little Hell is City and Colour's third release and second proper release in the United States. His debut album Sometimes was only released in Canada through Dine Alone Records in 2005 and re-released by Vagrant Records in the states in 2009, a year after his follow up album, Bring Me Your Love was released.
Little Hell starts off strong with the track, "We Found Each Other in the Dark". This opener sounds much like City and Colour's classic tracks. Full on acoustic guitars and minimal backing band. It has a very alt-country feel to it. The song it self seems to be about the act of getting married and staying together for ever and finding that true love.
The first single off Little Hell, "Fragile Bird" is by far my one of my favorite tracks on this album. I first had a listen to this song a few months back on a random fan made youtube video form one of City and Colour's Canadian tours. Instantly I fell in love with it despite the poor sound quality and granulated video. For me, City and Colour's music is not so much the music but the lyrical content in that music. He always seems to hit a cord with me. As if he knows what I am thinking or thoughts that I have had.
"When she sleeps there is a fever dream, yeah
It brings the night terrors to harm this fragile bird
She speaks in tongues, the words they come undone, yeah
Then with a wayward mind she struggles through the night
All that I can do, is hope she makes it through the night
Through the night
These cold nightmares they make her worse for wear
Lost in the dark, she's got a heavy heart
And when she wakes in her fragile state,
Well, she calls my name hoping that I keep her safe
All that I can do, is hope she makes it through
All that I can do, is hope she makes it through
Through the night
Through the night
Through the night
Through the night
All that I can do, is hope she makes it through
All that I can do, is hope she makes it through
Through the night"
"Northern Wind" is the 6th track on this album. Again, it is a song that I can personally relate to. It hits a cord with me that makes me kind of sad but it's worth it.
"You're the Northern Wind
Sending shivers down my spine
You're like fallen leaves
In an autumn night
You're the lullaby
Singing me to sleep
You are the other half
You're like the missing piece
Oh my love
Oh my love
Oh my love
You don't know
What you do to me
You are all four seasons
Rolled into one
You're like the cold December snow
In the warm July sun
I'm the jet black sky
That's just before the rain
Like the mighty current
Pulling you under the waves
Oh my love
Oh my love
Oh my love
You don't know
What you do to me
I'm the darkest hour
Just before the dawn
I'm slowly sinking
Into the slough of despond
Like an old guitar
Worn out and left behind
I have stories still to tell
Of the healing kind
Oh my love
Oh my love
Oh my love
If I could just find you tonight
If I could just find you tonight
Oh my love
Do do do "
The last track I want to touch on is the song, "Weightless". For older City and Colour fans, you may remember so of the lyrics from the song, "The Urgency". "The Urgency" was an un-released early track that many City and Colour fans got a hold of. The reworking of this song is pure bliss. It has the same heart felt pain that made "The Urgency" but feels like a totally different song.
"Come close,
Lay next to me
Come close,
Lay next to me
I need to tell you something important
Stay close,
Lay next to me
I need to feel important
Because it's your eyes I don't believe
And my heart, I know, you will deceive
Do you know the consequence that comes with such confidence?
Holding all the weight in my life
Now you turn and walk away from me
So what is this now, you ask of me?
What's makes your pain such an urgency?
Now I want out, so plain to see
Once again my dear, a new tragedy
Holding all the weight in my life
Now you turn and walk away from me
Holding all the weight in my life
Now you turn and walk away from me
Needing all the strength in my life
Now you turn and run away from me
Needing all the strength in my life
Now you turn and run away from me"
Dallas Green has been my favorite artist since around 2003. As much as I like the screaming vocals from George Pettit in alexisonfire, I always loved Dallas' clean vocals the best. I am always happy when I hear a new City and Colour song or an alexisonfire song, let alone a new album. With that said, Little Hell has now become one of my favorite City and Colour albums. The album has a different feel to the previous ones. It's a little less sad and the songs are a bit more catchy...but that's a good thing. Normally I dislike people liking bands that I feel like I discovered long ago and no one knew about. I can honestly say it is time for the World to know about City and Colour. No longer will I be selfish and keep them to myself. I expect them to blow up this year. This album makes me happy, this album makes me sad. It makes me feel things I haven't felt in a long time. I hope it makes you feel forgotten emotions as well.
Little Hell is set to release this Tuesday, June 7th. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.
-Cicatriz
Buy here: Little Hell + Limited Edition 7" (Amazon Exclusive Bundle)
buy here: Little Hell
www.cityandcolour.ca