Playlouder - Music is the Network

I do have something against Five O’clock Heroes. ..

A few years back I went a Brendon Benson gig. I’m rather fond of Brendon Benson, but really, I’d gone to see the support act, Psychid, a great band who for some reason had never caught on. Yet, to my disgust, they were third on the bill. In the middle of these two really good acts, were Five O’clock Heroes - a predictable mediocre indie band, who weren’t particularly good at all, much weaker than Benson, and considerably weaker than Psychid. But alas, Five O’clock Heroes, less talented, but younger, better looking more trendy, they’re still going. Psychid no longer exist. Mediocrity wins once again.

What the world doesn’t need is another poor Jam/Clash/Gang of Four tribute. Yet, as much as it truly pains me to say it, truly, but this really isn’t that bad an album. Granted it’s not great, by no means a brilliant album, as it has all the originality of a ham sandwich, but it is likeable. It rises above its average presentation by being undeniably catchy and energetic. They clearly know their pop indie and how to copy it effectively.

It’s pushing it at 13 tracks, but it isn’t dreadful. If you were to pass by your little brothers room and hear him listening to this you wouldn’t despair of him too much, rather it would give you hope that it would form a stepping stone, a path to something superior in the years to come.

I can’t recommend this album, but I can’t bring myself to hate it either.