The Loved Ones

Distractions may have been intended as a compromise between the Loved One's melodic punk debut, Keep Your Heart, and its Americana-influenced follow-up, Build & Burn, yet the band have delivered an EP of songs that would have worked well on either album. However, they don't show much in terms of compromise or development. The two new songs - "Distractions" and "Last Call" - are solid offerings, similar to the faster songs from Build & Burn. "Spy Diddley," a leftover from the Keep Your Heart sessions, has long been available online but it's a rocker and deserves a little spotlight. The last half the of the album kicks off with vocalist Dave Hause covering Bruce Springsteen's "Johnny 99" but his electric guitar and faster tempo strip the song of the haunting atmosphere its known for. The band's cover of Billy Bragg's "Lovers Town Revisited" is a quick pop punk bopper that works well, while their take on Joe Strummer's "Coma Girl" is a fair effort that fails to add anything to the original.