There’s a fine line between charm and cringe.
It’s the difference between a gang of teens paying ‘tribute’ to ‘50s and ‘60s dad rock and former members of Blondie, The Cars and The Romantics doing the same. From the “na-na-na”s to the classic rock hammer-ons, The Empty Hearts ape their heroes with zero regrets. While Fill An Empty Heart and a few other tracks are neo-retro masterpieces, the album’s flat production and refusal to do anything new ultimately lets it down. The Empty Hearts certainly loved every minute, but will anyone else?
