San Cisco - Gracetown Album Review

After more than a two-year gap since releasing their debut and self-titled album,
San Cisco’s Gracetown proves to be worth the wait. Gracetown highlights the
bands developing maturity and ability to ripen their existing sound.

San Cisco have pursued a path less focused on cheerful and poppy lyrics while still
encompassing a celebration of indie pop music, which we expect and love. They
have continued telling stories about relationships (or lack thereof), with more
emphasis on adding to the sound and depth of the music. While they may touch on
less cheery subjects, they manage to maintain a light melody and vocals.

Each song features unique musical textures, most noticeably, Scarlett Stevens’
opening whispering in Magic. Her vocals feature more prominently in Gracetown
in comparison to her role on drums, percussion and keys on their first album. Her
soothing backing vocals paired with smooth guitar riffs and chucky drums create a
new and exciting vibe that adds a feminine touch to the album.

Run showcases the bands quirky taste as Jordi manages to make heavy breathing
sound catchy, while Too Much Time Together matches the fast-paced timeline of
falling in love for the first time. They deliver a range of upbeat and easy-going
tracks to match any mood, day or time. The first half of the album is perfect when
feeling lively and buoyant, but when feeling mellow, the second half of the album
provides tunes to listen to while reading a book.

The laid back and festival vibes shine through in Wash It All Away as Jordi poses
the tough questions, “is it love or lust?” reminding us of the innocence of young
love. Engaging harmonies and in Jealously, featuring Isabella Manfredi from The
Preatures, and Super Slow provide a particularly new and interesting layer to
balance their more energetic songs. The slight reverb on Jordi’s vocals, electric keyboard, upbeat drumming and synth in Just For A Minute plays on sounds from
the 80’s. Their ability to include sounds and inspiration from the past reflects a
new versatility on this album.

San Cisco’s Gracetown is an album that is likely to be included in your next road
trip playlist. The one thing you can always rely on San Cisco for, is to provide
songs that urge you to groove and sing along.