Modern Hearts

Bay Area alt-rockers the Trophy Fire's sophomore outing draws the bulk of its inspiration from like-minded outfits such as Coldplay, Snow Patrol, and the Fray, employing a perfectly seasoned balance of '80s radio pop and emo-kissed post-grunge that's pleasingly pedestrian without being totally redundant. Spirited cuts like "Modern Hearts" and "Medicate Me" and the sunset balladry of "Further Than We Know" and "The Rent" sound custom-made for providing coming-of-age dramas and reality show montages with the appropriate emotional punch, while more explorative tracks like "Chaos/Control" and "Twilight Park" display a knack for taking their genre outside of its comfort zone. ~ James Christopher Monger