Hidden Shoal Recordings » The Hero Cycle Reviews

The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – Your Standard Life

tim — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:59:39 +0000

Excerpt: “Just in case you missed it, one of the best EPs and hidden gems heard at Your Standard Life in a while, was the release Lakes and Ponds by Vermont’s music collective The Hero Cycle… The band is America’s version of Broken Social Scene (and are that good!). The Hero Cycle is one of those rare bands that has the ability to mesh brilliant instrumentation, artistic lyrics, and great guitar indie pop melodies. The single ‘Breathing In’ was one of the coolest singles of 2007 and the rest of the EP is killer… To The Hero Cycle: please release a full length…cause we love you”

Your Standard Life

The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – Erasing Clouds

tim — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 04:22:58 +0000

“The Hero Cycle’s Lakes and Ponds EP is a five-song release influenced by the likes of Sonic Youth and Modest Mouse. ‘American Proxy’ and ‘You vs. Them’ are the two strongest tracks. When a band releases an EP they need to make sure that there is no filler because they have only a handful of songs to impress the listener. The Hero Cycle has definitely placed their best material on Lakes and Ponds and this listener is impressed. Also, my indie-rock hating co-workers liked this album and they had little if any complaints about The Hero Cycle’s music.”

Erasing Clouds

The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – Burlington Free Press

tim — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:50:09 +0000

“This is one of the nicer breezes to blow across the Burlington indie-rock scene this year. The tunes on this five-song mini-album have a poppy yet forceful aggression that hooks you from the start. Lakes and Ponds pulls influences out of the 1980s post-punk scene, echoing The Chameleons with the wall of chiming guitars or Sonic Youth with the tangled feedback combed out. It’s a sweet 25-minute drive.”

Burlington Free Press

The Hero Cycle live review, 11 May @ Mr Beery’s – The Battering Room

tim — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:45:07 +0000

Excerpt: “Was all sorts of pumped up for their set after listening to their EP on repeat… The road may have been rough on these guys, but the experience seems to have paid off, because they sounded like veterans. I was expecting some Broken Social Scene groovyness and that’s exactly what I got. From all seven of them. Not since The Most Serene Republic have I encountered a band that has taken cues from BSS so well. The band played every song off of the Lakes and Ponds EP (front runner for EP of the year) and a couple new ones that fit in seamlessly with the old. The dual keys blending together with multi-vocal interplay and some sharp as a pinpoint riffs from the lead kept all in attendance transfixed.”

The Battering Room

The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – On Tap Magazine

tim — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:38:05 +0000

“Vermont’s The Hero Cycle, a coagulation of assorted members of the eclectic Burlington scene, are a talented, energetic group. Huge, sweeping guitars mix with clever synth lines; big drums skillfully, often playfully, punctuate the elongated, epic riffs; the bass gives weight to every turn in musical direction; and the vocalists — there are three credited — are well above average for today’s indie music scene. Lakes and Ponds embraces everything from the cinematic quality of bands like Explosions in the Sky to the pop narratives of the 1980s, all without straining to coordinate the varying influences. For a debut EP, this is extremely impressive.”

On Tap Magazine

The Hero Cycle – Feature Article in Northeast Performer

Hidden Shoal Recordings — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:22:44 +0000

Excerpt – “The Hero Cycle is a small-town band with big aspirations – especially if one considers Burlington, Vermont a small town and believes that recognition, airplay and other perks are a lot to ask for in the independent music realm, particularly for a young band. Yet, The Hero Cycle has perhaps achieved more and propelled their imaginative blend of music further than many of their contemporaries purely through their ambitious, driven mindset.”

Northeast Performer

The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – Boring Machines Disturb Sleep

Hidden Shoal Recordings — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:02:03 +0000

Excerpt – “There’s a touch of Arcade Fire, a dollop of Broken Social Scene, while some of the tracks are peppered with experimental guitar work, reminiscent of Sonic Youth…….The Hero Cycle, however, have a knack of bringing their own unqiue burst of energy to the table, proving they have a superb handle of euphoric indie-rock theatrics.”

Boring Machines Disturb Sleep

The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – Avoid Peril

Hidden Shoal Recordings — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:15:08 +0000

Excerpt – “The liner notes seem to say it all: “Bravely written and delicately recorded by The Hero Cycle.” Bravely written indeed; this gang of seven doesn’t just hint at obvious influences like Built to Spill and Broken Social Scene, but beats what makes those bands great to a pulp and mashes it together into a sound that’s just as nostalgic as it is punchy and innovative. And as for delicately recorded, the production here is certainly astounding, allowing every song to flesh out while remaining crisp and focused, keeping every track sounding polished without sounding unctuous……a collection of undeniably catchy songs about as urgent and energetic as they are melodic and melancholy.”

Avoid Peril

The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – Seven Days

Hidden Shoal Recordings — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:00:48 +0000

Excerpt – “Opener “Breathing In” sets the tone for the rest of the record, with pinprick guitars and gauzy vocals that share an attractively muted quality. It’s a close cousin to shoegaze, the dreamily melodic genre that captivated indie fans in the ’90s. The main difference is velocity: THC skip along with a punky energy that’s missing in the haze-happy acts of yore………..“Lovers Crime” brings the keyboards to the forefront without sacrificing the six-string thrust. Wall’s voice floats airily above the instrumentation in a lovely, if disaffected, way before Smecker takes over for the bridge…….My favorite cut on the disc is the closing number, “You vs. Them.” While still somewhat derivative, it’s got a romantic quality that sounds gloriously bona fide. There’s also a really cool lead guitar part that shows the band is capable of more than just shuddering strums and cascading octaves.”

Seven Days

The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – It’s Not The Band I Hate, It’s Their Fans

Hidden Shoal Recordings — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 16:07:27 +0000

Excerpt – “The most exciting release I’ve heard in a long while is the debut EP by Burlington, Vermont’s The Hero Cycle. I cannot say enough good things about their sound. They feel like an amalgamation of all of my favourite bands: Broken Social Scene, Arcade Fire, Sonic Youth, Built To Spill, Stars, etc……. The first track, “Breathing In”, is explosive and contagious. You will feel compelled to hit repeat as soon as it’s done, but I suggest you suppress that urge for now because the next song “Lover’s Crime” is just as infectious. The final track, “You Vs Them” is completely epic in proportion. Masterpiece….With the right promotion they are going to be the next big thing and you’ll definitely want to jump on this one nice and early.”

It’s Not The Band I Hate, It’s Their Fans

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The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – The Sandwich Club

Hidden Shoal Recordings — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:38:17 +0000

Excerpt – “Bands like The Hero Cycle don’t come around that often. Infact a collective would be the most accurate term used to describe such a band. Seven members, a whole ensemble of instruments and varied style make for an intriguing sound that bounces from the light and melodic, to a darker, full bodied roar. These guys from Vermont have just released “Lakes and Ponds”, an EP that demonstrates across the board how much talent they possess. From the saga of “You vs Them” to the effervescent pop rock of “Lovers Crime” I was left licking the scraps off my fingers, hungry for more.”

The Sandwich Club

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The Hero Cycle “Lakes and Ponds” – Racketscan (also published at Music Emissions)

Hidden Shoal Recordings — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:06:02 +0000

Excerpt – “The Hero Cycle are one of those bands you discover…and instantly want to hide…..hoping against all hope that no one will come strolling by and discover your treasure………..The Hero Cycle is that treasure, and there is precious little time remaining for them to be hidden away…….Their newest EP Lakes and Ponds feature brilliant shoegaze and indie tunes, including the vibrant “American Proxy” (”Gettin’ tired / Of running on empty”) and revealing opener “Breathing In.” ………craft a brilliant musical landscape, and will take your breath away with the skill with which this young band plays. Grab a listen of Lakes and Ponds now so you can mourn with the rest of us when the world discovers The Hero Cycle.”

Racketscan (also published at Music Emissions)

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