This is possibly the best 80s-sounding rock album since--well, since the 80s. Fans of Firehouse and Skid Row unite! The Juliana Theory have shied away from their emo-stylings for the more favorable (?) sound of the past. At first listen, one might have mistaken lead singer Brett Detar for CJ Snare of Firehouse. The vocal technique and wailing sound are almost identical.

The Juliana Theory formed in 1997 as a side-project. They came up the independent way and released two full-length albums, along with a handful of split-CDs and an ep over the course of three years. They've made a tradition of changing the sound of each record, and Love marks their major label debut, as well as their best album-to-date. Although Love didn't originate as a concept album, Detar claims that after two-thirds of the album was finished, his thoughts rested on the idea that the drive for love and the desire for love are the inspiration for everything in the world, both positive and negative. While over half of the album wasn't penned with a direction, the underlying tones of the songs seem to lean towards this concept. This theme is most prominentely displayed in the closing, and most powerful, track (lyrically and musically) "Everything."

Highlights include "White Days," "Trance," and "Shell of a Man" --rock anthems that scream to be heard in a sold-out arena. Beneath the 80s-rock illusion is excellent songwriting and a melodic masterpiece. In 80s-rock standards, Love deserves 4 1/2 stars, and is my favorite album so far this year (me being an 80s rock fan of course).