The Little Heroes

Cinematic Americana

(Wednesday Records)

Record Review by Michael Lodge

The phrase “Cinematic Americana” conjures up visions of the Marlboro Man galloping across the endless American plains.  Musically, you might recall Ryan Adams banging out “Scars of Love.”  Perhaps you’ll think fondly of a Counting Crows tune playing over a particularly moving episode of Friends.  Basically, The Little Heroes have given themselves a rather grandiose album title to live up to in their songs.

Opening track “Flight Plans for Airplanes” is a down-tempo country tune featuring some great wispy vocal overlaps and the occasional piano plink.  It sounds like it could have been lifted straight from the Cash Brothers’ 2001 release How was Tomorrow.  That’s not a criticism. 

Single “September Falls” is a thumping slice of Americana.  In the verse, James Lombardo’s vocals show Michael Stipe’s influence on his melody and timbre, but when he opens up in the chorus, he makes the song his own.  (There are lots of Document-era R.E.M. flavors on this album.)   The middle eight half-time works well and swells into a great outro complete with call and response vocals.  “Teeth” sounds like super-charged R.E.M. and, further into the album, “Come On” has a Pete Yorn vibe.    

They can all play their instruments, not least drummer Adam Caldwell, who puts in an ultra-tight performance.  The band occasionally rely on creating driving rhythms with heavy, regular strumming when memorable hooks and a little space may have yielded even better songs.  But this is a strong debut album and the band would be well worth catching live.  Although it doesn’t entirely conjure up the epic scale suggested by its title, you may find yourself really warming to this album.