Review Summary: 'Cause it was so much easier than dealing with everything.
I saw this band twice in 2012 and it didn't phase me how great they were until just now, nearly three years later. Never has an album hit me so hard on the first listen. It was a Boston humid summer morning. I had woken up way too late after an emotional rollercoaster of a night. I tread though my room downstairs to the kitchen computer quietly so as not to wake up my sleeping best friend.
I put on "On the Impossible Past" and by track 3 had silent tears pouring down my eyes. Now, I don't drink or smoke nor have I ever owned an American muscle car (these are two of several motifs used by the band), but none of that mattered when I immersed myself in the music. The specificity of the lyrical content captured my emotions and nostalgia perfectly. I was so floored by The Menzingers at this moment that I rushed to the nearest record store and picked up the CD brand new at full price, because I was just that desperate to keep hearing it; to repeat the disc in my car and have it repeat my feelings on even the shortest of drives.
"Good Things" bleeds with heart-wrenching nostalgia and yearns for the past. "Ive been closing my eyes to find why all good things should fall apart", chokes the lead singer. The next song takes on a very different style and has a bit of a Sum-41 vibe minus the rapping. The disc wears this on its sleeve, as it swaps storylines with nearly every other song as The Menzingers have two lead vocalists; one of which employs a rougher, raspier style of singing (as heard on "Good Things") and one who has a more pop-punk suited voice (as heard on "Burn After Writing"). This works if you're a fan of both voices, but one may find themselves wishing only one of the vocalists did vocals on the entire album.
Nothing combines well with nostalgia more than great hooks, and "On the Impossible Past" is no stranger to these. "Burn After Writing" is the first time we hear a catchy guitar line, but similar instances include "Mexican Guitars" and "Casey". The musicianship as a whole is impressive, with both lead-fronted songs and rhythm-fronted songs ("Ava's House") shaping the album, creating musical diversity. Tones are crisp and production is remarkable, as it helps create the all-encompassing nostalgic atmosphere of the album.
The only regret I have is not getting into this record sooner; not going home and listening to The Menzingers after I'd seen them in concert way back when.
Recommended tracks: "Good Things", "Burn After Writing", "The Obituaries", "Gates", "Mexican Guitars", "Casey".
