After the mighty T & C and Impurity...

[jimmie 8]

Loved LOHC when i first got it and still a favourite to this day think the production on the album makes it great

[Pazza]

Odd one.

Didn't like Bob Clearmountain's mix when I first heard it and didn't get HCTW for years, used to start the album at track two, Fate.

Had a convo on the way to the Astoria in 2007 with someone and said it was my least fave album, she said it was one of her favourite albums.

So I revisited it throughout 2008 around the time the band played Stroud Subscription Rooms and I think I finally and belatedly 'got it'. I now play and sing about half of TLOHC on my acoustic and its one of my 13-year-old sons favourite NMA albums, and he pretty much loves them all, but TLOHC pre eminently.

[Intothewind]

Despite not being one of my fave NMA albums, I could stomp around the streets listening to Here comes the war all day long.

[sozbot]

For me, I think the best way to sum it up is this:

I like LOHC more than I think I do. It's not really a go-to album, but when I do listen to it, I think it's pretty great.

[Intothewind]

For me, I think the best way to sum it up is this:

I like LOHC more than I think I do. It's not really a go-to album, but when I do listen to it, I think it's pretty great.

Agreed.

[Shush]

For me, I think the best way to sum it up is this:

I like LOHC more than I think I do. It's not really a go-to album, but when I do listen to it, I think it's pretty great.

Agreed.

Me to. Perhaps I should go there more often 

[rick a.]

I also love the sound of the album. it's definitely a loud album and really well recorded. I wish Impurity had sounded like LOHC does. And as for the songs, it has a few I consider "anthems"  Here comes the war, my people, fate, the lyrics are excellent on this one. I remember reading in some mag that it sold really well in europe when it was first released. I can't say about the states. I have a feeling it was supposed to be their "breakout" album over here. It just didn't get on the radio where it would have won over a number of new fans(imho).

[Ron B]

 LOHC was the 1st NMA album I brought so it has special memories for me. It was not the  1st NMA song I brought that was the 12 inch single of White Coats way back after I saw it on MTV. Anyway It will be my #1 NMA album.

[mudgeek]

When I finished reading all your accounts I came to the conclusion that the same happened to me: after being enthralled my everything NMA put out previously, I went out and bought LOHC without batting an eyelid. And lo and behold, my early disappointment when I ended listening to side two (yes, I bought the LP!), even though I enjoyed "Here Comes The War" and "White Light". But I kinda felt weird about "Understand U", "Living In The Rose" etc. Something was missing and I couldn't pinpoint it. I put it to rest and eventually got back to albums like "Thunder..." and "Impurity" to try and absorb the "shock". A few later spins and I found myself enjoying LOHC more and more and more... Now I simply love it all the way through. How do you explain that?

[Guillaume]

When it was released I immediately found the first 4-5 songs to be powerful ones.

From HCTW to "White light" included the first tracks are really powerful, indeed! "Fate" is one of my fav NMA song...in the second half of the album, it's maybe "controversial" but i tend to like "Understand U"  ..."The love of hopeless causes" is a really, really good album, and the sound production is great, clear, powerful.

I remember reading in some mag that it sold really well in europe when it was first released.

There was a very interesting, lengthy NMA/Justin interview in the US magazine The Big Takeover made in 1993, during the US tour, release of "The Love of Hopeless causes"...Justin was joking in the interview that the european "LOHC" tour went very well, so well in fact that they could afford loose tons of money, which they did, during the US tour!! 

I remember that in my country (France), this was the last time NMA had a decent "sized" tour before years and years (the "Strange Brotherhood" tour though had a few gigs in the big cities of the whole country, if i remember well)...TLOHC was the last time NMA had a 20 ranked album in the UK charts...before BDAW, 20 years later!

[Guillaume]

Just a thought while listening this afternoon (song?) the cd in my car  ...this year was "the love of hopeless causes"'s 25th birthday!!
Times goes by so fast...

[Whirlwind]

The post above from Space got it right.

At first a sad little album just released onto the public as though the band were embarrassed....but upon listening, a top album.
"Young money men play paint ball gaimzzz.
HERE COMES THE WARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!"

[Guillaume]

Justin's interview for the album's release in June 1993:

http://the-revenge-of-riff-raff.blogspot.com/2013/07/interview-justin-sullivan-new-model-army.html

TLOHC's review, June 1993:

http://the-revenge-of-riff-raff.blogspot.com/2011/05/album-review-new-model-army-love-of.html

[Guillaume]

A very interesting Justin Sullivan interview made during the US tour of TLOHC here in this issue:

[ManxPat]

LOHC was the first album the band released whilst I was a fan if that makes sense? Think I was about 14 at the time and had only really heard the EMI singles compilation ( the one with Far Better Thing on it ). I really liked some of the songs but found it a little too tight in it's sound, perhaps a little over-produced. However its now definitely one of my favourites and gives, I believe, a real insight into the band at that time. Strange Brotherhood is a..Strange album. Its seems all over the place and unfocused but then throws out some of the finest songs they have ever recorded. Lullaby brings me to tears nearly every listen.