The River City Rebels latest album, Hate To Be Loved, is all about back-to-basics rock ‘n’ roll.

This seven-member band brings back the 1970s and the era of the Rolling Stones and Iggy Pop with its upbeat lyrics and rhythmic guitar solos.

The album successfully creates a unique spin on the classic rock formula, as the band offers up its players’ unique talents to create a variety of sounds and moods on the 12-track disk.

The CD begins with a melodious track, “Hurt Like I Do” and lead singer, ‘The Bopper,’ demonstrates his raw and emotional voice that immediately draws you into his world.

“Cloudy Times” is an upbeat follow up, jump starting the album with its fast-paced lyrics and catchy guitar and trombone background. The album offers a good mix of upbeat, punk, blues and acoustic.

But the title track “Hate To Be Loved” didn’t do much for me as it seemed to kill the momentum that album had been building.

“Dreamy 17” and “Her New Man” have great musical backdrops that really immerse you into the band’s sound and reveal their musical talent.

The high point of the album, however, is “Die Young” as the band admonishes that there is more to life than sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, saying “Sure I’ll die young all the greats do / but I’ll leave sincerity.”

The trombonist, Brandon HeartAttack, describes the album as “unbridled and inspired, gloriously gritty, new-millennium spin on some of the most influential roots of rock ‘n’ roll.” Although the gritty guitar and repetitive lyrics may be hard for some to swallow, the album is definitely successful in imitating and providing a modern and unique voice to the classic rock ‘n’ roll sound. The overall tone of the album is upbeat and engaging. If you can get beyond the “I Love the ’70s” tone, then I recommend the River City Rebels and Hate To Be Loved as a refreshing alternative to modern punk music.