It seems that most new bands with girl-swooning, anthemic-emo lyrics aspire to be the best that keyboards can buy. Just because Movies With Heroes employ a keyboardist, it does not make their music any more profound than it actually is.
Their new release “Nothing Here is Perfect,” is your typical rock-club, indie-raver. It’s like the All-American Rejects without the mass appeal or catchy quality that made that band a fast riser in the industry.
“Nothing Here is Perfect” does have some songs that have lasting appeal. The opening track “Wake Up” starts off with a nice little keyboard riff before launching into a pulsating mix of heavy guitar chords and eclectic drum beats.
However, the second track “Ink” removes the technical wizardry and drags itself down with repetitive lyrics, and a typical anthem structure: slow build-up verse, overly sing-song chorus, rinse, repeat.
The problem with this CD is that the musical flourishes don’t seem to be anything more than gimmicks. On the surface it sounds like the band is adding another dimension to their sound, but dig deeper and you’ll realize that when stripped of these gimmicks, the album might actually sound better.
The truth is Movies With Heroes aren’t really adding anything to the genre that the genre hasn’t heard before. In fact, the genre might add itself to the witness protection program so bands will stop copying what it has so it can live in peace.
Vocalist Keith Wilson, possesses the nasally high-whine quality needed for this type of sound, for better or for worse. Jeff Royer, while seemingly the brains behind this outfit, handling the programming, keyboards, vocals and bass, excels at none of these, but is serviceable at each. The lone standout of the bunch may be drummer Jeremy Bentley for his ability to adapt to each song as needed.
Tracks such as “Believe,” and “Need it Now” feel like they were made from the same power-pop, emo recipe book. However, the last track, “Miracle Drug” shows that the band can rise above their one-track mindset and unshackle themselves the way most bands looking for a change of pace do: by going acoustic.
While it may not be re-inventing the wheel, “Nothing Here is Perfect” is nonetheless a semi-catchy, cookie cutter release that is sure to get some hearts beating faster, and leave the rest in need of an infusion of creativity.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.