Yesterday, one of my favorite bands, The Loved Ones, released their sophomore effort, entitled Build & Burn, on Fat Wreck Chords. This is the follow up to their highly successful debut album, Keep Your Heart, released on Fat Mike's label in 2006.
The punk rock foursome from Philadelphia expands their unique sound on this record, adding guitarist Dave Walsh and bassist Chris Gonzalez (formerly of The Explosion) to the already tight duo of Dave Hause on vocals and guitar and Mike Sneeringer on drums. Despite the additions, the best lead guitar lick on the album is provided by Tad Kubler of The Hold Steady on the "rollicking Johnny Cash-meets-Ramones 'Louisiana'" as described by the Fat Wreck website (which offers free downloads of the songs "The Bridge" and "Sarah's Game"-- what are you waiting for? Get over there!).
The album kicks off with a song that could have been on their debut and is sure to be a fan favorite, called "Pretty Good Year". Following suit, the second track, "The Inquirer", is one of the best songs they've ever written, however it still follows the mold of many of their earlier songs. Then, the centerpiece of the album, the anthemic "The Bridge", completely obliterates the mold and effectively pushes the rest of the album in the new direction that the band seems to want to travel in. "Brittle Heart" and "3rd Shift" get the job done and according to the boys at Fat Wreck, feature vocals by the wives of Walsh and Hause, respectively, but you can't really hear them.
"Lousiana" leaves nothing to be desired. It transcends genres and conveys a message of hope for the future that is all too often absent from the mindset of the American media machine. The album's final track, "I Swear", is the band's first foray into love songs. Much slower and quieter than most of the songs on Build & Burn, this track is quite at home in The Loved Ones repertoire even if only for its honest lyrics and Hause's instantly recognizable vocals. Oh yeah, and it's an amazing song that will leave you wanting more of The Loved Ones. I sincerely hope that these guys get huge because they deserve it.
The album clocks in at just under thirty-three minutes, featuring ten tracks. It was recorded at the Wild Arctic in Queens and Kate's Place in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Bryan Kienlen and Pete Steinkopf, members of the Bouncing Souls as well as friends of the band, produced the album and added backup vocals and some extra guitars according to the album's liner notes.
The Loved Ones will be in Boston in support of their new album on Saturday, February 23. They're playing at The Middle East in Cambridge with The Gaslight Anthem, The Ergs, and Lagrecia. BE THERE! I know I will.
It's an excellent album.
GO BUY IT!
NOW!
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