Guitar Romantic (Expanded & Remastered)

The Exploding Hearts

Released on 26/5/23 by Third Man Records
Main artists: The Exploding Hearts
Genre: Punk / New Wave

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In the wake of their 2003 debut album, Portland's Exploding Hearts, a punky quartet of early twentysomethings, lost control of their van on the way home from a gig in San Francisco and three members were killed. So endeth the Hearts. Given that tragedy, the band's one recording was immedicately deemed a punk pop essential. Filled with ten songs that totaled 28 minutes, this blast of youthful exuberance was short but very sweet. Or was that the loss and sympathy talking? Ripe for reappraisal, it's fascinating to finally hear the album again, 20 years divorced from the tragedy. Predictably, at least for fans, Guitar Romantic still bursts with promise. Remastered for a fresher sound, the exuberant early Clash-like sing-along "I'm a Pretender," the hooky power pop of "Sleeping Aides and Razorblades," and the sturdy melodic lift of "Throwaway Style"—which sounds unmistakably like a Strokes outtake—all still retain their raucous originality and sassy charm. Best of all is the delightfully snotty "Boulevard Trash" which, set to a glammy strut, shows the Exploding Hearts, too, could salute the New York Dolls. The messages here never get much beyond the perils of love and so the lyrics are appropriately raw. After mentioning that an ex-girlfriend thinks he'd have a "lobotomy" if she had her way, the protagonist of "Sleeping Aides" is even sure their once-shared pet has also moved on: "I got new girls and I'm runnin' around/ The house doesn't look the same/ I hung new posters on my wall and the dog don't remember your name." These final songs on record from vocalist/guitar Adam Cox, drummer Jeremy Gage, guitarist Terry Six, bassist Matt Fitzgerald and keyboardist King Louie Bankston (who left the band before the crash but died in 2022) have also been improved. Bits of pre-and-post-take chatter from the original reel-to-reel and DAT tapes have been added to the tracks for atmosphere. An alternate mix of "I'm A Pretender," a new mix of "So Bored," and a remastered version of the non-album track, "Busy Signals," which was self-released as a single, are all included as bonus tracks. Guitar Romantic has aged well, passing the crucial test of any album proclaimed an instant classic upon release. © Robert Baird/Qobuz

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Guitar Romantic (Expanded & Remastered)

The Exploding Hearts

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