The Von Bondies - Love, Hate and Then There's You

Stephanie DeCamp
decamp@mscd.edu

In their second major-label release, Love, Hate and Then There's You, The Von Bondies have produced a decidedly more coherent and consistent album than 2004's Pawn Shoppe Heart. The only problem is that might not have been what their audience was looking for.

This is especially tragic as their previous album suggested this was a rock band that could sulk and bounce, simultaneously waving pom-poms on the field and smoking under the bleachers. Unfortunately, while the new cheers sound good, no one will be accusing them of being great.

It seems as if Jason Stollsteimer and company spent a little too long listening to what people said they wanted and not long enough listening to their own guts. The first song of the album, "This is Our Perfect Crime," evokes the sheer, wonderful thrill of driving with the top down on a Friday night, headed toward God knows what. But from that promising beginning we find the tempos hit a certain rhythm and pretty much stay there. So while the songs are catchy and the refrains stick in your head, one can't help but notice that suddenly three songs have gone by. And with them goes a little bit of Von Bondies rock credibility.