Loves - ...Love You

by Anthony Strutt

published: 15 / 1 / 2011

Label: Fortuna POP!
Format: CD

intro

Magical 60's-influenced indie pop on fourth and final album from Cardiff-based band, the Loves

The fourth and sadly last album from the Loves is big time fun, fun fun. Loved by indie kids everywhere and by the late great John Peel, for whom they recorded four sessions for, they have decided to call it a day and split on St Valentine's Day this year, but deliver this baby as a token of their love for us. The Cardiff band whose history has seen 34 members go through their line-up leaves us with indie pop magic. 'WTF? (Or How I realised I'd Wasted My Life)' sounds like the Rutles in fun mode on a very tight budget. 'Bubble-gum' is in the style of indie legends BIS and jump up and down pop for guys and girls old enough to know better. 'O My Gawd' has an old organic 60s flavour. This groovy number sucks the listener in completely and even throws in a 'Blue Monday' sample. 'I Lost My Doll to Rock 'n' Roll' is an acoustic stripped down affair, while 'That Boy is Mine is an indie pop anthem for all the new boyfriends and girlfriends out there when you are oh so young and the world is shiny and new. 'I Want Love and Affection' is a 1966 soul anthem given here a Merseybeat twist with a Lennon like vocal from front man Simon Love. 'King Kong Blues' is a prog-based number and, much darker with grooves to match, has a sinister side to it. It ends with lush Velvet Underground-like feedback. 'December Boy' has a Christmas like feel and is as if ABBA wrote an indie pop number. 'It's.. the End of the World' is a downer featuring Jesus at the end of a phone played by the Velvets Doug Yule. Pleasantly down, it is very different but quite novel. 'The Very Stars Were Meant for Us' is the last number and, lo-fi in the style of Hefner, is a good solid closer.

Track Listing:-

1 WTF? (Or How I Realised I'd Wasted My Life)
2 Bubblegum
3 O! My Gawd
4 I Lost My Doll To Rock & Roll
5 That Boy Is Mine
6 I Want Love & Affection (Not The House Of Correction)
7 King Kong Blues
8 December Boy
9 Its'...The End Of The World
10 The Very Stars Were Meant For Us

Band Links:-

http://www.simonlove.org
http://www.facebook.com/simonloverules
http://www.twitter.com/simonloverules

Label Links:-

http://www.fortunapop.com/
https://twitter.com/fortunapop
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fortuna-POP/202756739792517

Have a Listen:-

interviews

Interview (2007)

Simon Love, the front man with bubblegum punks the Loves, has hired and fired nearly 30 musicians since forming the Loves in his parents' garage in 2000. Sarah Maybank speaks to him about this and his group's much acclaimed second album the Loves

Interview (2002)

live reviews

Toynbee Arts Cafe, London, 21/2/2003

With their debut album out shortly, Cardiff's the Loves are one of the great hopes of British indie pop. Gary Wollen finds their "crash, bang, wallop concoction of the coolest 60's underground chic" and "Bubblegum accessibility" to be irresistible

London Betsey Trotwood, 24/5/2002