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For an album to be commercially successful, it must contain at least one hit single, or something with enough of a hook to get played on the radio. If an album has that one successful song, a label can fill the rest of the disc with filler, knowing that the single will sell albums. The occasional album bucks that trend, such as Blindside's "Silence," where every song was a potential hit. House of Heroes' debut, What You Want Is Now, is not such a record.

In 2001, a group called No Tagbacks released a little album full of heartfelt emo-punk anthems that displayed a melodic sensibility and a remarkable down-to-earth nature. Nobody bought it, though, and the group changed their name to House of Heroes, switched record labels, and gave us a more mature sound that left their punk roots behind. 

What You Want Is Now is front-loaded with big, hooky, sing-along anthems. "Julia," "Barbara's Birthday," and "Mercedes Baby" show off what House of Heroes does best. The album's second act opens with an instrumental piece, then runs through the less-accessible-but-still-good five-minute opus "The Drugs The Drugs" and the chunky riffing on "Lead Role in the Cage." 

Seventh song "Uncomfortable" is a slowly-picked ballad that destroys the rocking, yet pensive mood the band spent half the album establishing. "Your Wurlitzer" reclaims a bit of the drive, but four of the final five songs are a dreary mess of throwaway tracks and limp lyrics ("you drive me crazy / I can't get you off my mind"). The only thing that redeems the last half of the disc is the scorching, passionate "Nobody Loves No One," which shows what the band is capable of.

In its better moments, What You Want Is Now brings to mind Jeremiah's Grotto or a more-polished early Plankeye. The rest of the time, House of Heroes coasts on dry cliches and bland musicianship. A bit more work, and Tim, AJ, and Colin could be going places.

John Wilson (1/12003)