Cambridge: How To Walk A Tightrope EP

The Indie Review
By Allie Berg
April 18, 2008

Artist: Cambridge
Album: How To Walk A Tightrope EP
Label: JMB Records

Rating:

How to make a Cambridge:

2 tablespoons of talent

1 pinch of originality

1 smash hit (Board Up the Windows and Doors)

4 big cups of catchy, poppy, edgy goodness

(Girl jeans, long hair, tattoos, piercings optional)

Everyone in the whole pop punk genre has relatively the same sound and it just seems like there is a recipe to follow in order to create the perfect pop punk band. The combination of girl jeans, long hair, studded belts and the ability to play an instrument is all you need. With huge portions of catchiness and talent, the boys of Cambridge have potential to make a name for themselves. With only a hint of originality though, they might unfortunately be overlooked.

After the recipe completion, fresh out of the oven is the release of Cambridge’s first EP, How To Walk A Tightrope. The EP starts out with Board Up the Windows and Doors, which has incredible hit potential. It starts out very strong and sets the tone for the rest of the album. The combination of harmonies, variation of instruments (sweet use of the piano), and ratio of singing to screaming makes this a stand out track for sure. The other tracks did not nearly stand out as much, but are still catchy and fun nonetheless. The addition of an acoustic version of The Commonwealth In Bloom showcased their raw talent, which was a nice ending to the EP.

They lyrics are not overly thought provoking or insightful, but they definitely have a few good lines thrown in there.

Cut me deep, I feel fine. Replacing people takes time…I don’t have the time. We don’t get along much anymore. We all seem the same. “Time heals everything”… yeah. Come on, you want to make amends? It was never supposed to end and it won’t start up again. How do you sleep at night? You know there’s no amends.

This EP is good stuff. Indulge yourself and grab a copy of How To Walk A Tightrope., just remember everything is good in moderation. Listen responsibly and ENJOY!

Stand Out Tracks:

“Board Up The Windows and Doors”

“The Commonwealth in Bloom”

“Hold Tight”