The Five O’Clock Heroes – Bend to the Breaks

Bend to the Breaks – The Five O’Clock Heroes

By Chris Peken

If you look sharp, and your aim is true, then there is a good chance that The Five O’Clock Heroes are for you. Taking their cues from Joe Jackson and their balls from Elvis Costello, the Heroes add to the increasing stock of new millennium, third-generation, new wave acts with a penchant for jerk-pop and a taste for melody. Bend to the Breaks is the Heroes’ self-funded debut, recorded in New York at former Smashing Pumpkin James Iha’s studio, but decidedly British in sound, it introduces the band and their jerky power-pop from the opening slashing chords of Head Games. Unmistakably catchy and unashamedly  melodic, The Five O’Clock Heroes capture the sound of the new-wave of the late 70’s early 80’s (mercifully sans any keyboards!) with a feisty New York attitude. It hard to imagine another record that would be more fun played live. The Heroes stake their claim for a place in your collection beside The Strokes and The Hives with a “must-hear” for fans of good pop music everywhere.

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