City Boy-The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1979)

City Boy are one of the emblematic bands of the so-called art rock movement. Formed in 1974 in the British city of Birmingham by keyboardist Max Thomas, who, along with Steve Broughton (guitar and vocals), Chris Dunn (bass and acoustic guitar), Roger Kent (drums), Lol Mason (vocals), and Mike Slammer (guitar), left behind seven excellent albums between 1976 and 1981. "The Day the Earth Caught Fire", their fifth release, is one of their best, showcasing their great elegance and musical refinement by blending different styles ranging from pop to rock, including the complexity of progressive sounds, all replete with great melodies, powerful riffs, soaring keyboards, and rich vocal harmonies. Linking all the songs together as if they were a concept album about human folly, this release reflects a heavier and more organic sound than their previous works. The title track is a magnificent piece of energetic, heavy rock with progressive undertones, followed by other excellent songs such as the energetic "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" and "Interrupted Melody", where, in addition to their brilliant instrumentation, the irresistible vocal melodies stand out. The fast pace slows with the mid-tempo "New York Time", a beautiful song with AOR influences, while the catchy "Up in the Eights" provides a commercial moment with an accessible pop-rock melody. This outstanding work concludes with the complex and progressive mini-suite "Ambition".