John Oszajca's sophomore album is a polished collection of mainstream rock that boasts accessible, singalong melodies, familiar themes of love lost and heartbreak overcome, and muscular, high-end production. The music is a little bit emo, a little bit sunny, and a lot MTV-friendly, with enough nods to the indie and alternative rock of the 1990s to maybe even please a few fans of that sound.

It's unlikely that Oszajca's tales of being lovelorn and brokenhearted will win any awards for originality, and the same can be said of his by-the-numbers songcraft. But FIRST SIGN OF ANYTHING isn't out to lay claim to new stylistic territory. It is light, straightforward entertainment that seeks to push the right rock buttons, and as such it succeeds.