LP3

Album review

Philadelphia indie rockers Restorations deliver a sprawling, noisy third album full of wide skies, big guitars, and a warm heartland feel. It's a sound they've been building slowly toward since commencing their recording career at the turn of the decade, and with the release of LP3 it feels like they have arrived somewhere. Their post-hardcore origins still echo in their willingness to play with time signatures and various progressive elements, but for the most part there's a feeling here of going from the gut and playing for the cheap seats. Strains of bands like the Hold Steady, the Lawrence Arms, and even the National can be heard in what comes across as a sort of literate, adult punk sound that mixes city grit with Springsteen-ian grandeur. On board once again is producer Jonathan Low, another Philly native whose ongoing collaboration with Restorations helps give this album an inclusive, "all hands on deck" group spirit and builds on the foundation of 2013's LP2. Many of the tracks, like the opener "Wales," take their time to develop, letting the band stretch out a bit before offering more deliberate payoffs. Elsewhere, tracks like "Separate Songs" and "Misprint" speak of a recently tapped well of power with their punchy chugs and woolly guitar solos. "All My Home" and "No Castle" take a more straightforward songwriterly approach, with warm riffs and organs framing singer Jon Loudon's heavily rasped vocals, which, at their best, recall a sort of world-weary punk troubadour but occasionally feel a bit too put on. For the most part, though, Restorations succeed in delivering a well-built album that feels ambitious but remains engaging, with its sights set on the wide-open horizon.
© Timothy Monger /TiVo