Even though the Loved Ones are a relatively new band in the punk rock scene, their roots go much deeper. Part Philly punk icons Kid Dynamite, part The Curse, the Loved Ones were born out of a brotherhood of the local area punk scene on the east coast. Keep Your Heart, their full length debut is full of soon to be punk anthems, about being down and out, girls, and always having your friends to fall back on.
Loved One's lead singer Dave Hause has been deeply involved in the area punk scene for sometime. Stage managing for New Jersey punk legends the Bouncing Souls, Hause thought it was time to do something for himself. The Loved Ones are simple, making them appealing to anyone that will give them a chance. They play from their hearts, and it shows on Keep Your Heart.
On "Jane", Hause exclaims right away "I'm sick of feeling like I've lost this fight". Obviously about girl troubles "Jane" is the frustration of sometimes being in a relationship. "Please be Here", follows in the same vein with Hause's deeply emotional lyrics.
The Loved Ones found A knack for writing songs that can relate to anyone listening. There is no complex formula. Just play from the heart and it will shine through in the end. "The Odds" is a thank you to all those punks up and down the east coast that helped them out. Its catchy, upbeat, and with lyrics like "And I see myself in you my friend/but I would break where you would bend", shows that they will not forget where they came from. "Benson and Hedges" is a call to get up, go out and live those dreams you keep putting off.
The album's catchiest song "100%" is a pure pop punk song at its best. It sounds eerily like a song from those "American Idiots" Green Day. It sucks you in from the verus down all the way through the chorus. Hause sings "given the chance I'd rather rot in hell", a punk rock inspiration at work.
The Loved Ones could be compared to Green Day in many ways. Some might call them a poor man's Green Day, but there is something different. Their songs hit a chord that not too many punk bands today can touch. |