My American Heart
Hiding Inside the Horrible Weather
Review by Susan Shaughnessy
Drums played with a sense of purpose, daring guitar and bass, and inviting vocals. My American Heart's "Hiding Inside The Horrible Weather" is one of those big, deep cleansing breaths that comes along once a week and doesn't return until it is good and ready.
This is the sophomore album for the California-based band, and the growth is obvious. While the first album is a lovely addition to my personal "no" pile, this second attempt is a successful one. The record has all the necessary ingredients to make a really enjoyable pop punk record. However, the band tops off the project with a garnish of jazz, swing, and straightforward rock.
Sifting through this album to find more positive attributes was an easy task. The musicianship absolutely cannot be overlooked. From the clear and polished drums to the guitar and bass' hour-long flirtation, the band is victorious in providing the singer with a colorful palette to enhance. He too keeps this album easy on the ears, breaking away from this current trend of strained, laborious pop punk vocalists, a trend that can best be described as hurling one's voice at the audience. His natural singing ability is clear in his tone and light vibrato, and he offers that to listeners with no intention of trying to sound like anyone else.
Musically, this is a really satisfying album. Lyrically, it just pisses me off. Just when I was about to say that My American Heart is ready to surpass the "artist to watch" bracket, I noticed what they were saying in these awesome songs. Or rather, what they weren't saying.
Nothing frustrates me more than to hear a song or album that is fantastic on one end and dreadful on the other. "Hiding Inside The Horrible Weather" betrayed me. I had faith and was let down. Perhaps the most infuriating part of this deception is the inconsistency of bad lyrics. Every other song is devoid of substance, sincerity, and originality. Maybe some people don't rely so much on lyrics, but I believe the words being sung are every bit as important as the music that supports them. With lines like, "your name is Devastation, you fill me with frustration," My American Heart chose to take the easy way out on about half of the tracks. I don't know, maybe they were running low on studio time. It's no excuse, and it managed to completely remove me from the album into which I was initially so invested.
As quick as I am to criticize, I am quicker to forgive. I really can get over the dried up, sampled lyrics. I do suggest they aim a little higher on the word front, though, because right now they are tied with Bon Jovi for the elementary lyrics in town. However, at the end of the day, I want to listen to this album for its fresh outlook on its own genre, and its respect for the art of singing. Make up your own words and sing them over these infectious melodies. Listening to this album in the morning will set you up for a good day, and based on the pattern of progression thus far, I can't wait to hear what they come up with next.