Overall Impression

Illinois-based artist tcr! delivers turbulent and hook-laden alternative rock, with their release of “Five Minutes To Cicero.” This uptempo track features super-charged guitar riffs and hypnotic bass lines driven by choppy rhythms from lively drums, while understated layered male vocals espouse stream-of-conscious lyrics from a darkly nostalgic perspective. Catchy chromatic melodies along with a vibrant and contagious punk-rock energy make tcr!’s “Five Minute To Cicero” an easy recommendation for any indie or alternative rock fan. Look for it now, featured on his album Power Grid and available on all major music platforms.

Strongest Point

Strong production, decent mix. Good use of stereo space, nice panned guitars. Fantastic energy, straight from the top. Excellent arrangement and song structure, wonderful rhythmic variations. Terrific ear worm riffs and hooks, super catchy stuff. Drums cut through the mix nicely. Love the ambient crowd noise around the 2:47 mark. Solid vocal performance and production, smart choice to double track it. Sprawling lyrical content that can be hard to follow but still can be rewarding to the attentive listener.

All in all, this is a fun and engaging bit of post-punk flavored indie rock that I think audiences will really enjoy. Outstanding work on this one!

Lyrics

Weird the things we take
with us to the lake
Keepsakes in our veins
with us in our lanes
Kissing at the stoplight
In the broad daylight
Double parked in your car
Smoking with the stars
I sucked I guess
at just being cool
And there you were
eating all the glue

5 minutes to, to Cicero
Heard a love song and thought of you
5 minutes to, to Cicero
Running far away was all I ever
Wanted to do, just me and you

Was hopelessly in love with you
You didn’t look up from your phone
Convinced of us, filled with lust, and trust
You were building great walls, I didn’t know

Lost in, in a drift
Stuck in, in a rift
Looking for, for a shift
Falling off, off the cliff

Dreamed to marry you
Keep you in my arms
An endless love story
Romance, all that glory
Had to bluntly break free
So that you’d agree
Wasn’t easy for me
Come over and leave
It’s not what I wanted
Both our souls are haunted
Ever-after endgame
Soaked in tears and blame

5 minutes from, from Cicero
I didn’t come looking for a fight
5 minutes from, from Cicero
I can cut you just as deep
Gonna ignore you all I want

Threw my heart and hopes on the line
You sighed and laughed at my shoes

You were just somebody
Could’ve been anybody