Love Fiend
Handle With Care
In The Red Records [2024]
Album Overview: Love Fiend is a rock band hailing from Los Angeles, California, known for their energetic and engaging performances. The group consists of Jesse Summers with his cool Ric Ocasek-style vocals and guitar, Raymond Schmidt handling guitar and synthesizer, Owen Summers on bass, Owen Barrett on drums and percussion, and Kurtis Ray playing the saxophone. Produced by John Dwyer (Osees) at Discount Mirror Studio and engineered by Eric Bauer, the album benefits from top-tier production quality. Handle With Care has a timeless appeal, blending rock with new wave elements. The record could have charted in the ’80s and sounds perfect on a modern playlist. The album features a clean, polished sound with prominent use of synthesizers and guitar riffs yet retains an edge that preserves the essence of their music. Handle With Care is full of infectious hooks, memorable melodies, and call-outs that ensure each track leaves a lasting impression. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Love Fiend’s music, this album offers something for everyone, from danceable tracks to introspective tunes. It’s a testament to the band’s ability to evolve while staying true to their roots.
Musical Style: The album features a blend of rock with strong influences from ’80s synth punk. It incorporates driving bass lines, prominent saxophone sections, and infectious hooks, creating an upbeat and electrifying sound that makes it hard not to tap your feet and clap along.
Evolution of Sound: Over time, Love Fiend has honed their musical style, incorporating more synthesizers and saxophones into their rock foundation. With Handle With Care, the band continues to evolve, merging retro elements with a modern edge to produce a fresh and dynamic sound.
Artists with Similar Fire: Listeners might find similarities between Love Fiend and artists like Franz Ferdinand, Nick Lowe, The Cars, Gary Numan, Blondie, and The Nerves. These comparisons highlight the band’s ability to blend catchy melodies with a distinctive rock edge.
Pivotal Tracks: The standout track “C.K.I.L” (standing for “Cop Kids In Love”) features a catchy call-out. “Got Bad” is highlighted by its driving bass line, compelling saxophone, and ’80s synth punk vibe. “Hard Feelings” maximizes their ’80s punk synths with a high-energy delivery.
Lyrical Strength: Love Fiend’s lyrics focus on relatable themes of love, exploring both its joys and sorrows. Their songs are crafted to be enjoyable and accessible, and maintain a fun and positive tone throughout.
LOVE FIEND LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | In The Red Records
- Father John Misty: Mahashmashana [Album Review] - November 21, 2024
- Tess Parks: Pomegranate [Album Review] - November 6, 2024
- The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World [Album Review] - November 5, 2024