Call it a day

(Morning Star, Friday 08 August 2008)

ALBUM: Five O'Clock Heroes - Speak Your Language
(Pinnacle)

IT'S with a degree of ennui that the speakers issue forth this latest emission from Five O'Clock Heroes.

In truth, this hip young New York foursome have every right to commit their music to record, but, unfortunately, it's the result of the floodgate which MySpace has opened that just about anyone is afforded a global mouthpiece for their second-rate wares.

That Five O'Clock Heroes should be incurring ire may not be fair. They're merely living their dream and, with supermodel-of-the-moment Agyness Dean offering some vox aid here, their cool credentials are certainly not in question.

From opener Judas through to Alice and the grating Who, this is all tried and tested stuff.

For a combo who would aim to be championing the new sound of yoof, this record is a barely concealed retread.

Regrettably, British singer Antony Ellis's Northampton accent gives this the reek of decade-old Britpop and nothing more. Time, gentlemen, please.