The Little Heroes: Cinematic Americana

The Little Heroes have taken big steps with this album. While most would place it in the category of Americana, there’s a highbrow pop feel throughout — despite the fact a song like “Flight Plans for Airplanes” sounds like a polished version of The Cash Brothers as some orchestral touches begin to appear. From that moment on, the band keeps the level of high quality from falling with the tight, Petty-esque “September Falls” and “Teeth” that also has a trace of Goo Goo Dolls-meets-Gin Blossoms in it to boot. The band’s rock element is quite apparent on the gorgeous, shimmering “New End Game” that has a definite Replacements-ish bounce in its step, at times letting the guitars lead the way with the vocals and drums trying their best to play catch up. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how well they pull off the epic-like Coldplay or Snow Patrol-inspired “Come On” and “Made You”. However, things level out a bit with the rather ordinary but pretty pop ditty “Bridges and Tunnels” but “Don’t Stop” gets things back up to a Midwestern rock snuff.