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Review Summary: There are plenty of those songs that work tremendously whether facing the upturn or comedown of the night, the ones about whiskey and youth and failure and how they are the perfect conceptualization for LIFE. It’s debatable who does it best, but fans of The Gaslight Anthem, The Smith Street Band, The Menzingers, Latterman, Bouncing Souls, Red City Radio etc know the formula. The method of attack may vary in speed and accent, but the ingredients of melodic anthem punk are the same: guitars that alternate between a gentle jangle and a massive roar, an oft-chugging, occasionally napping rhythm section that patterns the mood of the axe, a piano/horn player/roadie who slams into bridges and codas when called to arms, and a sentimental singer who can’t decide whether he would rather la-ment on the mistakes of the past or gloriously smash the fears of the future on the wings of beer-backed optimism. Perhaps more than anything, it just comes down to a fervent thirst for being a part of something HUGE.
Philadelphia outfit Restorations are disciples of the formula. The usual tropes are in place, from the massive finishes of “No Castle” and “It’s Not,” to graceful, melodic quasi anthems “Separate Songs” and “All My Home,” the band lives in the same barroom hero pocket of their brethren. There are plenty of those songs that work tremendously whether facing the upturn and comedown of the night, the ones about whiskey and youth and failure and how they are the perfect conceptualization for LIFE. How life is best when it’s aligned to the sounds of anthems rife with metaphors, gin-soaked floors, and night driving, whether ferocious or tender. Restorations are not the best or the last of these melodic anthem punk sages, but one that deserves notice. The last 60 seconds of “Separate Songs” and its surging bridge and gentle coda of lamentation says it better than anyone else can. Life is here, we all f*ck up spectacularly, but Goddamn it, just embrace it. Live.
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Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
Really quick write up, as I thought it was a travesty this 't have a review.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
Video for "Separate Songs"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rv6q1-y27Q
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good work hans. this needs more love
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
Thanks Gyro. Albums like this make me think of Satty and Evedder and repping Org punk back in SPutnik 2010
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oh man, what a trip down memory lane. haven't spoken to mike in ages. maybe i'm just feeling nostalgic but i liked this place a lot more back in 2010 and '11
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
its jarring that it was long enough ago to prescribe nostalgia. Time flies.
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yeah man, i'm especially finding that now that i'm 25. time seems to accelerate the older you get. imagine how fast time will fly when we're 50!
good song choice btw. separate songs was one of my faves of last year
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
haha, we sound like old timers but its true.
Song kills.
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You really are a fantastic writer Hans. I don't think I will enjoy this as much as you, but will certainly give it a go.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
Thanks dude, I hadn't written a review in over a year, so wasn't sure. Good to see youre still here.
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I continue to lurk. Bigger desk in the same place with less responsibilities. I liked this place a lot more around 2010-2011 too.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
Back in 09-12 I had a ridiculously easy job so was on constantly, hasn't been the case since.
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If I remember correctly you have some significant familial responsibilities these days as well.
Checked out Seperate Songs...heck of a powerful bridge.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
yeah man, 2 kids and an old lady who stays at home.
That bridge rules
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ben: man, i never paid much attention to your avatar before but it just dawned on me. wind waker. i just passed through that area a few hours ago lol
| | | Album Rating: 3.7
a hans review, nice! was an entertaining read, gonna check this based on the bands you mentioned in the first sentence haha
also yeah the wind waker is pretty much perfect
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agreed. top 3 zelda games for sure, my other two probably being majora's mask and a link to the past.
i think wind waker is grossly overlooked by a lot of zelda fans because of its cell-shading, which i personally think is beautiful and has aged better than pretty much any other decade-old game
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
Atari jam the song "Separate Songs" for a good indication
| | | Album Rating: 3.7
you playing the HD version? yeah it's easily in my top 3 zelda games as well, i'm also a fan of the cell-shading. a link to the past is my most nostalgic zelda game for sure though, great memories playing that bad boy on my SNES for hours on end.
@hans, will do man, i actually just started jamming the album on spotify :]
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same here man, got it for both the snes and the gameboy advance. every time i play through that game i'm reminded of my childhood. and yeah i'm playing the hd wii u version. sharpened textures, better lighting, more convenient traveling and menus and so on. seems like they made a lot of improvements on an already near-perfect game
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