It was released in September 2008 as the second single from the album Jet Black & Jealous.

In it, the male narrator recalls a point earlier in his life, when he and his friends would gather around a bonfire, pass around a guitar, and sing songs.

Country Standard Time critic Brian Steinberg cited "Always the Love Songs" as a standout track on the album, saying that it showed a sense of interplay among the band members that was comparable to The Wallflowers.

[1] Andrew Leahey, reviewing the album for Allmusic, also compared the song's sound to that of The Wallflowers, saying that its intro was borrowed from "6th Avenue Heartache".

[2] The music video for "Always the Love Songs" is of a live performance, and is directed by the band.