Talking to Billboard Magazine in early 2010, John Vesely promised that
Secondhand Serenade's third album would be “more upbeat” than those preceding it. Released several months later,
Hear Me Now does include some sprightly tempos, with the energetic "So Long" taking the cake. The album balances its optimism with lyrics about heartbreak and defeatist attitudes, though, aligning
Secondhand Serenade with other broken-heart-on-sleeve acts like
Dashboard Confessional. ~ Andrew Leahey