Cheap Trick would be proud. American Heartbreak crank out the pop rock 'n' roll anthems with each and every track. Featuring ex-members of Jetboy, Exodus and even the Bay City Rollers, Seattle's finest are bringing the chorus and you can't help but be a part of it. Liquor and Poker made a fine addition adding the quintet to the label, and the band's self-titled release is its best to date. Songs like "Somebody," "Raise Your Hands" and "Last of the Superheroes" bring the swagger back to the Northwest, and it's about damn time. I was beginning to lose faith. (Another schlocky Zeke record was not anything I was looking forward too). Sure, you'll have your emo-hipsters listening to this, but at least some of the girls in that scene are attractive, and while you suck in your Pabst gut underneath your AC/DC t-shirt you can have something in common to talk about. It's rock, punk, glam and pop served up on a platter. I haven't been this excited about a band since I got my first Huey Lewis and the News tape when I was 5. Well written songs all around and the rock album of the year up to this point.
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- BJ Lisko