REVIEW: Trophy Eyes - The American Dream - 3 stars

On their third album, The American Dream, Trophy Eyes have unashamedly set the course for mainstream success. It’s a ploy that will likely shed many of the band’s older fans who loved their emo hardcore-punk, but it will ultimately deliver a far bigger legion of new followers. 

Frontman John Floreani’s vocals are at the forefront of the album, and it’s easily his most polished performance. He’s mostly dispensed with his harsh emo scream and discovered a more measured delivery.

It’s more Gang Of Youths and less The Amity Affliction.

The haunting piano of A Cotton Candy Sky and Floreani’s quiet crooning provides the album’s most poignant moment. Elsewhere he soars on the epic string-laden Broken and Tip Toe.

While Floreani is looking ahead vocally, his lyrics are based on both nostalgic and distressing memories from his childhood.

The poppier moments like You Can Count On Me and Friday Forever, with their grating cliche lyrics and singalongs, are hooky as hell, but have the artistic nourishment of Fruit Loops. 

Everything about The American Dream screams ambition. From the album title to the various anthems. On Lavender Bay the band even sings, “I won’t sleep until Sydney knows my name/I just want to see my name light up the streets or it was all for nothing.”

You get the feeling Trophy Eyes will be lighting up far more lucrative markets than Sydney with The American Dream.