Since rumors swirled in Philadelphia almost three years ago about the creation of The Loved Ones, new fans of the MySpace generation and old fans of the Lifetime generation have anxiously awaited the release of their first album. Now that the day is upon us, the supergroup’s first full-length, Keep Your Heart (Fat Wreck Chords) does not disappoint.
Though the band formed from the ashes of some of the East Coast’s fastest and tightest hardcore punk bands (Philadelphia’s Kid Dynamite and The Curse, the Washington area’s Trial By Fire), Keep Your Heart keeps the old heads guessing by providing a straightforward rock sound with punk influence.
Kid Dynamite, The Curse and Trial By Fire beat you over the head with their sound, attacking the senses with breakneck drums, churning guitars and thrashy vocals. The Loved Ones, in comparison, soothe the savage hardcore beast, offering melodic hooks, heartfelt lyrics and sweet guitars.
That’s not to say the album lacks intensity. Frontman Dave Hause sets the pace out of the gate in the album’s opening track, “Suture Self,” with intense but under control singing, significantly devoid of the raspy growl found in his backup vocals with The Curse or Paint It Black. The songwriting formula is nothing that hasn’t been done before, but the group draws from so many influences from Minor Threat and 7 Seconds to Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash it’s hard to pin the group to a specific genre.
Each song is well-crafted, but at points, the track sequencing is off, leading to an almost doldrum-like lull in the center of the album. On first listen, these songs “Please Be Here,” “Hurry Up And Wait” and “Sickening” do not stand out. But on a closer examination, the songs have their own individual charm, growing on you once the melodies become familiar.
Another treat for the old heads that presents itself on the album is “Benson and Hedges,” a song originally performed by Hause’s old band, The Curse. Though the song lacks the intensity found in the original version, it has a certain charm only The Loved Ones can pull off. The members of The Loved Ones spent the past decade perfecting their skills in previous bands and it shows in the material presented on Keep Your Heart. The songwriting and presentation is mature, pensive and super tight, making the album a standout in the hardcore, punk, or good old rock ‘n’ roll genre. Don’t be surprised if you see a lot more of these guys in the future, which is great, because they’ve earned it.
Contact reporter Sam Hedenberg at hedenbergdbk@gmail.com.
