Secondhand Serenade - Hear Me Now - Album Review

The third studio album from the acoustic-emo band Secondhand Serenade, Hear Me Now, is a collection of 11 songs that project a familiar sound along with a compositional continuity throughout. And although some continuity between songs is nice, that ends up being the problem with this John Vesely (the man behind the name) project, too much of the same thing.

The Good

The album doesn't waste any time getting all emotional on the listener with its first track, the Dashboard Confessional-ish, "Distance." Emo lovers, here you go. With lyrics like, "I hate myself, when I'm away from you..." what more could you possibly want?

The two best songs from the album are "Distance" and "World Turns." "World Turns," has a real lonely feel emphasized by the way the piano and guitar are balanced during the chorus. Both songs are rather depressing, requiring a self-esteem boost after listening to them, but really, why else would you listen to Secondhand Serenade?

There is an easy to listen to pop formula used with each song so there is a market for this type of sound.

The Bad

Too much of the same thing, songs sounded the same and mushed together.

At times, if I weren't paying attention, I wouldn't know if I was listening to track 4 or 7, clearly not enough contrast.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the album is okay. Nothing spectacular for sure, but not absolutely terrible either.

There's still an audience for this type of sound, even with the technological advancements used in the studio and the current trend to put a dance beat and synthesizer loop to every song.

I like how the Menlo Park native Vesely isn't going with the crowd with this album, keeping to his style and self, but he still needs something to keep it fresh. Right now, it's stale. "Hear Me Now," gets a 3/5.

Secondhand Serenade - Hear Me Now - 3/5

Copyright 2010 Dan Rozak