When a great pal tells me to check out a band that one of his bandmates happens to be in, I stop what I am doing and look for my headphones.
Heart & Lung is the band I speak of and thanks to Jeremy (most call him Rozco), I can not stop listening to these guys.
This four-piece pop-punk act hails from tropical Cleveland and has been doing their thing for a couple of years now. Featuring current members of Throw Shade and former members of The Fucking Cops, Let em’ Run, and The Public, it is safe to say that this band has plenty of rustbelt punk rock talent.
You Wanna Know the Truth is the band’s debut release and I must say, it is pretty damn impressive. Released independently, you’d think someone from an independent label would have scooped them up already (hint, hint to you label owners out there).
As far as the sound goes, think the energy of Direct Hit! mixed with the singing style of Say Anything, the memorable lyrics of Iron Chic, and glorious group harmonies of Masked Intruder.
As an avid Cleveland Indians fan, I certainly appreciated the opening sample with Hammy doing this thing on “Telecaster”. This opening track just has the band jumping right in and giving it their all.
“Hey Man” was kind of like a fun blend of Max Bemis and Masked Intruder, hence my previous comparison. This happy-go-lucky track is best played with friends. Nice job incorporating the band name into the lyrics by the way…
I am not sure what “1954” is all about, but I do know that is the year the Cleveland Indians went to the World Series. I also know that is the year the infamous Sam Sheppard supposedly murdered his wife. I appreciated the Cleveland pride and references throughout this jam.
“You Wanna Know the Truth?” was easily my favorite track off the album. The steady yet furious drumming, the piano playing, and just the honest chorus “you wanna know the truth? I’m fucking in love with all of you” pretty much did it in for me. Hearing the band profess enjoyment while on tour as well as their admiration for the great state they all hail from was all too intoxicating. The ending though…man, that was so perfect (you can check out the song below).
“Recession” was 50 seconds of the ups and downs of corporate America and the broke asses who live there. “Don’t Need You” was as you guessed it, a song about tacos from someone who is trying to diet furiously. I love tacos.
“The Sound” ended things in almost Weezer fashion sans the heavy repeating bass line. Hearing this song build up, explode, and just exhale with piano playing at the end put this album to rest in a good way (no pun intended of course). With lyrics about ending it all, carrying fear in doing so, and finally seeing someone looking back eliminating said fear, this wasn’t exactly a happy-go-lucky track.
My only complaint about this album? It clocked in at a whopping 27 minutes. 11 great songs, but I would have gone for a few more.
This Cleveland pop punk act has what it takes to turn heads and snag the attention of many. Don’t believe me? Check out what the bassist John’s sixth-grade students had to say about it…
I feel like I should have just started out the review with their quotes.
This band has been playing like crazy lately here in Cleveland as of late, most recently with Off With Their Heads, and I am excited to see what happens with them next. If you are looking for something new and fun, check these dudes out.
https://heartandlung.bandcamp.com/album/you-wanna-know-the-truth
https://www.facebook.com/heartandlungcleveland/
https://www.instagram.com/heartandlung/