Heartbreak Club

Another Australian import with a very different vibe, this adorably cheeky pop-punk EP makes fun of teenage pain with a wink and a wag of the tail.

"Here's to me. I've just lost my everything. This pout and mope industry justifies something cruel," says the arch narrator of "The Girl @ TGUK."

Liberal use of dynamics, a hefty but hollow guitar attack descended from Blue Oyster Cult, and offbeat lyrics and snatches of conversation churn through songs with titles like "She Talked To Me!" and "Boy Said/Girl Said."

The funny "Bethanie" that starts the EP and the acoustic "Like the Weather" that closes it are like two sides of the same sigh - boy loses girl, boy gets girl - but the very last line of "Like the Weather" pulls the rug out: "Oh what a ruse." - BlogCritics

You don't need to listen to an album called 'Lamecore' for too long (or, to be honest, at all) to know whether you might like it or not.

Anyone willing to title their record like that A) has a sense of humor, B) probably doesn't have a lot of money to throw around on things like production and mastering and C) undoubtedly plays a snotty brand of pop-punk that rides that delicate line of being just a bit too self-aware for its own good.

Still here? Phew. The good news is that B is a moot point when A and C are at their most potent (Which, for the most part, is the entire sixteen minutes of this EP's run time.)

"She Talked to Me", especially, is where the group's formula hits on all-cylinders, making for a furious, jangly, crunchy, funny, rollicking good time.

In other words: you can judge a book by its cover, but what's the fun in that? - eMusic Feature Review

Heartbreak Club - Lamecore
The five song demo from this foursome including New Yorkers and Aussies shows influences from power poppers like The Click Five and Good Charlotte.

It shows much more than that though, such as the edgy metal riffing in “The Girl @ Tguk,” and the alt folk of “Like The Weather.” These songs have the interesting qualities of being catchy, edgy, witty, and entertaining in a familiar way while still proving that some serious thought went into the songwriting process.
- Music Morsels

Taking their cue from the candy-punk side of US bands like The Get Up Kids and Green Day, you wouldn't pick the Heartbreak Club for Novocastrians, but then, that's the point. The four-piece sports members who have gigged around the place in a number of more seriously-minded post-punk bands who have obviously decided that what the world needs right now, and to quote a recent review, is "a wicked parody of 'emo' angst". Hence singer/songwriter Nick Green becomes enigmatic ersatz nerd frontman Teddy Hernandez, and if girls can be totally blonde, they can meet the boys, tongues firmly in collective cheek, to match. - Drum Media (Michael Smith)

If you're not in on the joke, Heartbreak Club sound like well executed, completely derivative power-pop, and like the title of their current EP, that is lamecore.

Their myspace profile lets us all into the giggle loop a little bit by describing Heartbreak's music as self-deprecating power-pop but there's more to it than that.

There is a subtle hint at just the level of satire entwined with the'lamecore' concept when the uber SoCal vocals are broken at strategic points by an accent verging on okka.

The clues come thick and fast after you discover that lead singer Nick Green assumed the name Teddy Hernandez in order to complete the band's lineup. Lyrics like "If I could own what lovers own/I'd sell my shares in apathy tomorrow" combined with Teddy's live antics complete the picture.

As Teddy, Green is near-perfect on stage. He struts and pouts, hands out-stretched from his heart, face contorted in a wicked parody of 'emo' angst.

It should be easy to hate Heartbreak Club - especially in the context of the Newcastle scene where at least half the band's lineup have been played with the much maligned Rubix Cuba at various points - but if honesty needs to come into it (and it does) Heartbreak are rather good.

Dub the music Iron-Emo if you must and within that frame of reference enjoy the decadent candy-pop fun that is Heartbreak Club. - Dirty Word Zine

HBC “channel the sounds of The Get Up Kids, Saves the Day and Weezer into one hell of an impressive powerpop effort. Whilst avoiding ripping off the aforementioned bands Heartbreak Club have their own take on things, which is refreshing to hear... 8/10” - BLUNT (Feb 09)

“O Tempora! O Mores! 8/10. With catchy guitar riffs and sing-along choruses, 'O Tempora' makes for a fantastic listen” - Tsunami Mag (December 08)

“With their new release O Tempora! O Mores! Heartbreak Club have created one of the most addictive EP's I've heard in a long time. The five songs are the perfect blend of punk, pop and rock music. The tunes are accessible, but the clever lyrics ensure these tunes stay left of the mainstream” - Oz Music Scene (Nov. 08)

“Australia has a long and proud history of satire and self-deprecation, with names like Chris Lilley, Barry Humphries and the boys from ABC's Chaser series famed for bringing larrikin humour to the stage. Now a group of musical “neo-punks” are preparing to follow in the footsteps of their comedic countrymen with a new manner of making music” - Katherine Feeney, Brisbane Times (Oct 08)

“These songs are on par with the best in the genre, and their take on it puts them accross as being smarter and more approachable than most” - Jeff Walker, Merredin Wheatbelt Mercury
- Various