The Classic Metal Album Reviews:
Title: Love Songs for the Unloved
Artist: Sheer Terror
Label: MCA Records
Release Date: 1995

Rating: 5 Skulls
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    • Reviewed by Redwolff:
    A few years ago, when I was living in Boston, my best friend from college and I went to see Sheer Terror play at the Rat (RIP) in Kenmore Square on their farewell tour. As Sheer Terror had been one of my favorite bands for a few years at that point, there was no way I was going to miss this show. We got there while the Ducky Boys still had the stage and decided to get ourselves in the mood with a drink or two, so we ordered eight shots of tequilla and appalled the bartender as we downed four shots each, one after another, in front of her. "I thought you had a bunch of people with you!" she admonished us. By the time Sheer Terror took the stage we were ready to defend against the mosh pit, scream out lyrics and basically make asses of ourselves. One of the best shows I've ever been to.

    Love Songs for the Unloved is my favorite Sheer Terror album, for many reasons, but worth the price of admission for "Broken" - the sad ballad of a Pagliacci-type clown still determined to bring the house down despite his crushing ennui and raging alcoholism. Although it has been argued that this album represents a Sheer Terror that deviated from their original course once they were signed to a major label, it's still a great album with, as far as I'm concerned, only one throwaway song: "College Boy." In comparison with the rest of the album, this song is too bouncy-traditional hardcore on such a predictably blue-collar theme - oooh, we hate college students. La di da. Mark Neuman and Paul Bearer (with the help of Mike Walter) did a better job on the other songs.

    A generally maudlin album, Love Songs explores drug use (I'm scratchin' at fleas and twitching like a freak/ This is the fortieth time I've had to take a leak), losing at love (At night I feel the floor and think of her and nothing more/ We've all got our problems, mine was being a man) and masochistic women (You're his whore, beer rag, punching bag for all to see abused/ But you keep coming back for more, for the glorious feeling of being used). "Be Still my Heart (You're Killing Me)," the final track, is a creepy ballad that, like all of Philip Roth's books, seems to confuse sex and death - or at least the desire to kill the one you love just because they love you back. The songs, taken as a whole, tell the story of a lifetime of being a loser, surrounded by people who hurt themselves and each other, being torn between blazing bright and burning out fast, or being a dork and admitting that the one thing important in life is having someone to come home to. Sweet. Heartbreaking! Reading the lyrics can make you want to kill yourself, but the music itself is so upbeat it actually makes you feel better. It's fun to yell along with lines like "Have I frightened you? Well, good! I HATE BEING ALONE!"

    A great album to drink to, a great album for the gym, a great album to listen to while walking around New York City: Never have I ever met so many fucking morons! Somehow, although this album always gives me the urge to abuse prescription medication and commit murder, it's all in a very good-natured way. I miss these guys.
    5 out of 5

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