Darren McLeod
02/21/06, 09:49 AM
Before I begin discussing the album in question, a part of me feels the need to address something: at what point in time did Fat Wreck Chords regain it's position as one of the premier labels of punk? I mean, they've always been putting out some solid albums, but after last year's winning combo of Propagandhi, Smoke or Fire, and Against Me!, who knew they could follow a great 2005 with a stellar 2006? In January, they dropped a quirky set of fun-loving anthems in Randy The Band (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=111096), and next month they'll be releasing The Lawrence Arms' much anticipated Oh! Calcutta!. Lying snugly between these two releases is the debut full-length from The Loved Ones.
The Loved Ones feature members from now-defunct acts Kid Dynamite and Trial By Fire, but that isn't a good indicator of the band's sound. If you listened the band's self-titled EP last year, you know what to expect with Keep Your Heart -- big hooks wrapped in a rock n' roll-influenced punk rock sound. The full-length picks up where the EP left off, boasting a healthy thirteen tracks of dark and brooding songs that still maintain their catchy edge.
Brian McTernan once again does a great job on the dials, giving the disc plenty of shine while never sacrificing energy. The catchy nature of the album is its obvious selling point, and Keep Your Heart definitely delivers on its promise of ear-pleasing melodies. They succeed not only in their standard mid-tempo songs, but also when they pick up the pace ("Over 50 Club") or slow it down ("Sickening"). The opener, "Suture Self" has obvious hooks, yet it also sets a frantic pace for the album while invoking a definite sense of desperation on the listener. It is this very desperation, a somewhat intangible and abstract idea, that is nonetheless present and seems to fuel The Loved Ones. When singer Dave Hause (bearing a bit of a resemblance to Arturo Barrios of Audio Karate) sings "do you have more of those, and do they help you cope? I'd trust in anything now" in "Hurry Up And Wait," it isn't so much a question as it is an outright plea.
Hause's lyrics, though usually quite dark, often have some subtle humour attached to lighten the mood. Of course, there are also the times that this humour isn't so subtle, such as in the closer, "Player Hater Anthem." In one of the standout tracks of the album, the band mocks anyone that ever doubted these three could succeed:"They're trying 3% too hard, can't you see the look there on his face? I think they'll do okay for now, and in a year throw in the towel, but they're losing momentum every day." Their response is an emotional rebuttal that caps off an extremely successful debut full-length, one that is as consistent and solid as any fan could hope for.
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Band Website: http://www.thelovedonesband.com
Band Mp3s: http://www.purevolume.com/thelovedones
The Loved Ones feature members from now-defunct acts Kid Dynamite and Trial By Fire, but that isn't a good indicator of the band's sound. If you listened the band's self-titled EP last year, you know what to expect with Keep Your Heart -- big hooks wrapped in a rock n' roll-influenced punk rock sound. The full-length picks up where the EP left off, boasting a healthy thirteen tracks of dark and brooding songs that still maintain their catchy edge.
Brian McTernan once again does a great job on the dials, giving the disc plenty of shine while never sacrificing energy. The catchy nature of the album is its obvious selling point, and Keep Your Heart definitely delivers on its promise of ear-pleasing melodies. They succeed not only in their standard mid-tempo songs, but also when they pick up the pace ("Over 50 Club") or slow it down ("Sickening"). The opener, "Suture Self" has obvious hooks, yet it also sets a frantic pace for the album while invoking a definite sense of desperation on the listener. It is this very desperation, a somewhat intangible and abstract idea, that is nonetheless present and seems to fuel The Loved Ones. When singer Dave Hause (bearing a bit of a resemblance to Arturo Barrios of Audio Karate) sings "do you have more of those, and do they help you cope? I'd trust in anything now" in "Hurry Up And Wait," it isn't so much a question as it is an outright plea.
Hause's lyrics, though usually quite dark, often have some subtle humour attached to lighten the mood. Of course, there are also the times that this humour isn't so subtle, such as in the closer, "Player Hater Anthem." In one of the standout tracks of the album, the band mocks anyone that ever doubted these three could succeed:"They're trying 3% too hard, can't you see the look there on his face? I think they'll do okay for now, and in a year throw in the towel, but they're losing momentum every day." Their response is an emotional rebuttal that caps off an extremely successful debut full-length, one that is as consistent and solid as any fan could hope for.
---
Band Website: http://www.thelovedonesband.com
Band Mp3s: http://www.purevolume.com/thelovedones