REVIEW: THIS LOVE “AT WAR”
At War - This Love
Release Date: August 2nd, 2011
Reviewed by: Jonathan Weber
The Ohio based four-piece This Love has created something special with their newest release, At War. They label it as their debut full-length, but I call it a piece of art yielding 7 of the best pop-rock songs of 2011. The track-listing may be a little deceiving, boasting ten tracks to make a full-length, but these tracks include an intro, interlude, and an outro. Some may find this as filler, but the tracks fit perfectly in to the story This Love is trying to tell. At War is a very cohesive effort from a young band on the rise, and has the potential to skyrocket them to great things.
Starting off the record is the intro “One.” With excerpts from Robert F. Kennedy’s speech on the death of Martin Luther King laid over harmonizing ohs. The perfect introduction to this album with the words, “With an effort to understand compassion and love.” After those words ring out, we get a first real taste of the real growth This Love has had. “Free” starts off with only simple guitar and the powerful voice of Joe McFaddin. As the track continues, the band comes full force in to the chorus. Everyone has their moment to shine in this song, one of the highlights of the record. Guitarist, Jake Bonham along with McFaddin boast some extremely impressive guitar work, while Jake Rinehart shows that he doesn’t just hit the drums, he plays them. We cannot overlook the bass lines provided by Jake Sims either. The next song kicks in quicker than the last, showcasing a heavier rock side to This Love. “Shoot Out” is without a doubt the standout track on this album. McFaddin’s lyrics in the chorus are some of the best we have seen in 2011 (“We live, we lie, we love, we die, then we do it all again; It’s a shoot out war for so much more than just a couple scars on our skin”). The first half of the record ends with the anthemic “We are the Brave” before entering the interlude. The interlude samples another famous speech, this one by John F. Kennedy, this one accompanied by darker theatrical/orchestral elements. The second half of the record explodes with the intro to “Motions”, the first taste most listeners got of At War. The next couple songs showcase the new edge This Love have gained. The band have geared away from their melodic pop roots, in to a mature organic rock sound that can be appreciated by everyone. At War ends with “Alive”, completing their story perfectly. Singing of growth and freedom, it is a glimmer of hope among the dark times they sing of previously. Leading in to the outro, which samples Barack Obama’s famous speech after the killing of Osama bin Laden, along with the intro intro to “Alive”. Joe McFaddin’s voice leaves us with the chilling lyrics, “These chains are finally gone, and there’s no one to tell me no. Well I’m my own man now and I still have time to grow”
This Love has grown considerably from their debut EP The Beginning, showing us that the best is still to come from these guys. In just their sophomore effort, the band has put out 7 songs of pure pop/rock perfection. Although this album is truly a concept album, it is a welcomed change from the songs about partying, girls, and heartache put forth by most bands these days. But who said This Love was just another band? This Love is truly a diamond in the rough, and luckily for you reading this, you have found this diamond.
★★★★.5 /★★★★★
Tracklisting:
1.) One
2.) Free
3.) Shoot Out
4.) We Are The Brave
5.) Good Will
6.) Motions
7.) The Thief
8.) Fly Away
9.) Alive
10.) We All Know Well
THIS LOVE IS:
Joe McFaddin - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Jake Bonham - Guitar/Vocals
Jake Sims - Bass/Vocals
Jake Rinehart - Drums/Piano
