Nothing Here Is Perfect

The second full-length by Pennsylvania emo quintet Movies with Heroes (under this band name, that is: they previously spent a number of years saddled with the truly awful name Mack, the Coffee Man) has several good things going for it. Foremost among these is bassist and keyboardist Jeff Royer, who decorates the songs with catchy vintage synth riffs and neo-new wave electronic beats; the main hook of the album-opening "Wake Up" recalls the Killers, and that's a good thing. There are also several catchy choruses to be found on Nothing Here Is Perfect, particularly the aforementioned "Wake Up," "Wildflowers," and "Need It Now," and the part-acoustic ballad closer "Miracle Drug" suggests an interesting new direction for future exploration. However, true to the self-deprecating album title, singer and lyricist Keith Wilson has nothing new to say and a particularly anonymous, dull way of saying it, and the group rarely moves beyond the Emo 101 playbook in terms of tunes and arrangements. As a result, the album never rises above pleasant efficiency. ~ Stewart Mason|