Band: The Loved Ones
Album title: Distractions
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Distributor: Sonic Rendezvous
Release date: 03/02/2009
Release: (6-track) EPCD

This Punk Rock act is based in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), and was founded in late 2003 by David Hause (lead vocals, guitar) who’d just left Paint It Black and decided to form a new band. So, he recruited bassist Michael Cotterman (formerly of Kid Dynamite) and drummer Mike Sneeringer (of Trial By Fire). This trio not only recorded the band’s 4-track 2004 demo, but also the self-titled 5-track EP (using two songs off the demo), issued by Jade Tree Records one year later…and the band’s February 2006 released debut full-length Keep Yout Heart, their first for Fat Wreck Chords (the contact had come when, while Hause was working as a roadie for The Bouncing Souls, his band was given the chance to do a tour with them. Also on that tour, was NOFX, and Fat Mike was so impressed he immediately proposed a deal). The band was given even more extensive exposure (than having their album out on their renowned new label), when album track “100K” (another re-used song, having been on the EP before – on top of which, the two remaining demo songs that were not on the EP, were now also featured on the album…and “Benson And Hedges” was originally a track of Hause’s pre-Paint It Black band The Curse)was chosen for the soundtrack of the 2006 game Saints Row, and the track “Spy Diddley” was put on Fat Wreck Chords’ Christmas bonus digital sampler.

In late 2006 it was announced (through the band’s MySpace page) that Cotterman had quit the band. His replacement would be Chris Gonzales, and at the same time the band would also expand to a quartet with the addition of second guitarist David Walsh (both of The Explosion, a band which has split up around the same time of Cotterman’s departure). TLO’s sophomore full-length Build & Burn, produced by The Bouncing Souls’ Pete Steinkopf and Bryan Kienlen,was released in February 2008, featuring cameo appearences of The Hold Steady’s Frarz Nicolay and Tad Kubler. For the track “The Bridge”, a video was produced, still available on the band’s MySpace page! After supporting the release with several tours (the last two being with Flogging Molly and Jackson United), the band took time out from October to rest and write new material (even turned down a tour with Dropkick Murphys in November) for a new full-length, to be released later in 2009.

Meanwhile, the guys have put together this 6-track EP to tie the fans over. Featuring 2 new tracks (“Distracted”, which was posted at myspace.com/thelovedones, plus “Last Call”, both with participation of Franz Nicolay on organ/ piano), the previously mentioned “Spy Diddley”, and covers of Bruce Springsteen’s “Johhny 99”, Billy Bragg’s “Lovers Town Revisited” (these recorded during the sessions for Keep Your Heart), and Joe Strummer And The Mescaleros’ “Coma Girl”…the covers bringing clear evidence as to where the guys draw some of their influences from, even if their own music is geared more closeely towards a Poppy Punk Rock (at least from what I gathered from the songs on this EP, and what’’s posted at the band’s MySpace page).

80/100

Tony.