Messersmith auditions for the heart

Published 10:21 am Saturday, February 1, 2014

Romantic comedies, you’ve got a new soundtrack.

With his fifth album “Heart Murmers,” Minneapolis-based Jeremy Messersmith has a crafted a collection of — no surprise from the title — songs about love.

Each song off “Heart Murmurs” is like an audition for the soundtrack of an independent romantic comedy.

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“Tourniquet” plays like something that should score the climactic reunion scene of the film. The ballad “Bridges” with its chorus of “I’m gonna hurt you make you cry; the only thing I need is time” would play during the montage after the crisis. “Steve” and “You’ll Only Break His Heart” would play during a similar montage as a character walks slowly down a sidewalk lit by streetlights to ponder his broken heart.

The catchy “Ghost” unfolds like an homage to Mumford and Sons, with a driving bass and an undeniable folk feel.

At times, Messersmith is a bit like the male companion to a Zooey Deschanel — a bit too sweet. Still, it’s hard not to keep right on listening and tapping your toes to the music.

The subtly infectious, catchy songs make the roughly 42-minute album feel like a breeze.