Philadelphia’s The Loved Ones are back with an all new powerful punk rock album Build & Burn.  The foursome, spawning out of past projects, have outdone themselves on their sophomore release under Fat Wreck Chords.  This CD is full of energy from a tight group of friends and family making for an outstanding follow-up to 2006’s Keep Your Heart. 

Don't get discouraged just yet, this is not just a punk rock album as much as it is a CD full of good music.  The band does not prefer to have a genre, as they just like to make good music.  They could care less who they cater to and would rather meet people over selling records.

The thing I like the most about The Loves Ones is their roots.  With members of past projects, such as the Explosion and the Curse, it’s no wonder why their sound is so appealing.  It’s music created by kids who have been in the scene for years whether it be hardcore or plain old punk rock.  They know what they are doing and demonstrate it in Build & Burn.   Some may say this is pop punk music like everything else out there, but I say it exceeds that genre regardless how it is categorized.

The band formed in 2003 with original members Dave Hause (The Curse) and Mike Sneeringer (Trial By Fire).  With a line change up at the end of 2006, Chris Gonzalez and David Welsh of the Explosion became a part of the band.  As luck would have it, everyone was already friends with one another so the band had no problems adjusting to the newest additions.

Starting off the CD is “Pretty Good Year” a solid punk rock jam almost reminiscent of something Rancid might have created.  With this song talking about working hard and having fun I am pretty sure The Loved Ones can look forward to a good year. The energy I felt on this track alone made me very enthralled to hear the rest of the CD.

Nothing changes my attention on the second track “The Inquirer” as it is just as dominant as the previous.  This track I can see will be getting a lot of play be it satellite, internet, or traditional radio.  It just has that sound to it that is not going to annoy you if you hear it a few times a day.

As the CD continues the songs become mellow as seen in “The Bridge” a track about a relationship’s conclusion.  One of my favorites, “Brittle Heart” with lyrics of apology and pain even sticks to you harder with help of vocals from the wives of Hause and Walsh.  Even with the songs slowing down I was not really concerned if I was listening to punk rock or punk pop, it still sounded fine to me.

Fans of the Hold Steady should check out “Selfish Masquerade” with Franz Nicolay contributing to this punk ballad sing-a-long.  If that was not enough, Tad Kubler appears on “Louisiana” with an exceptional solo for this folksy song about people not giving up on rebuilding the hurricane Katrina affected areas.

Ending the album is a rock love song “I Swear”.  Reminding me of something you might hear Against Me! create, this song was my choice track on the album.  For an album that started off so powerful it was almost suiting to have it end in this manner. 

This CD is great for all the old punk rockers out there who are sick and tired of the new commercial crap that's supposed to be punk music that keeps making our ears bleed.  This is a CD for all the folk out who know what being a punk rocker means and appreciates music for what it is.    It’s not just punk as much as punk rock 'n' roll, it is a perfect blend to listen to.  Fans of Bouncing Souls, Smoke Or Fire, and just good rock should check this CD out.  You will not be disappointed.