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Many singer/songwriters trigger a gag reflex in audiophiles because of their inarticulate singer/songwriter-y-ness. Hurka's Hero works because instead of trying to make me "get it" like so many of the scene's crooners, Gus Hernandez tells his stories in a style that's refreshingly peculiar. He is one of a rare breed of s/s's that doesn't sound like "that guy." You know that guy. Coronet is a dynamic ep that tests the spectrum between rock and folk, pulling imagery from as recent as last night and as far away as the Middle Ages, and that makes for a fulfilling listening experience.
-Jon Hershfield (isgoodmusic.com)

Hurka's Hero—a.k.a. Gus Hernandez—is a Claremont-based one-man rock outfit who specializes in songwriting, but not that oft-boring, acoustic-guitar-driven “songwriter” stuff that can put you to sleep. Instead, Hernandez dishes up some serious indie-inspired rock that isn't mopey or self-important. The guy seems to actually work at crafting no-frills rock songs that are subtle and mellow, complete with sleepy, intimate vocals. Hernandez doesn't over-season his tunes with obvious influences or try to infuse his music with gimmicks, so each song is organic and remarkably unpretentious. We know what you're thinking, though, because we thought it too—isn't a one-man indie-influenced singer/songwriter outfit from Claremont just a fancy vehicle for sloppy ballads about broken hearts that were rejected by his regular pop-punk bro-bar band? Not really. The crooner steers clear of standard indie swill, offering remarkably inventive tunes that leave you wondering what obscure gems are hiding deep within Hernandez's record collection, as opposed to making you wonder if he's got Warped Tour potential.
- Phil Fuller (Inland Empire Weekly)