[rating=3.00]
Five O’ Clock Heroes, a band of UK expats living in New York City, have released their first proper American album. A healthy, smart mix of pop jangle, the band wears its various influences on its sleeve, blending together a medley of crisp guitars, bass, and soulful organ fills into something distinctly familiar yet satisfying and enjoyable. Opener “Diplomat” starts slowly as Ellis sings over a gentle strumming acoustic riff. At the one minute mark, things ratchet up a notch and the tempo is kept up at a frenetic pace throughout the remainder of the album. Lead single “Rough Boyx” follows with a crackling pace reminiscent of The Jam or early Elvis Costello. “Tell Me” and “The Cut” come next, both tracks pulsating with a ‘80’s vibe that would not be out of place on an old VH-1 Classic compilation.
A reggae, dub-step sound is given a whirl on “Boys Not Girls” as in “he likes boys not girls”-a song that starts out promising but descends into a schlocky, mid-album misstep. Fortunately, the band picks it back up for the homestretch of the album, charging ahead with the anthemic, arpeggio-laden “City of Lights”, the introspective and meditative “Postcard” that borrows a sound or two from Joe Jackson, and the catchy chorus of “Londinium”. The brief yet affable album closes with the horn-laden “I Need You Around” which segues into the barroom rock of closer “Just A Friend of Mine”. Like a favorite meal in your reliably trusty favorite restaurant, Different Times proves to be a good listen that won’t break any new ground but will oblige the appetite every time
