Restorations – LP3

It would be easy to lump Restorations in with the straight up bar-rock scene.  Carlin Brown’s craggy, gravel pit vocals, paired with the band’s guitar heavy foundation make for quite the impactful listen.  But upon probing further, the complexity of their intent and the confidence of their notes make them more likely to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of this generation’s more fine-tuned exemplaries. 

Their third full length, LP3, plays with a dose of grandois that straddles the line between the poetic insights of The Hold Steady and vocal refinement of Franz Nicolay.  Boasting full-bodied compositions, the band’s narrative style pops handily from the woodwork as it takes on a vivid life of its own.  The disc unravels with an ease of listening that can be summed up in the casual forcefulness of those like “Seperate Songs.”  Few bands can so earnestly swell a song full of life all the while honing their emotive side with such genuine execution.  With guitars wailing dimly as if stifling an internal conflict, the tracks resonate with vulnerable rawness.  Brown might sing alone, but in this regard he’s not the only “voice.”  The dynamism of the nearly five-minute instrumental piece “Misprint” somehow avoids its status as an early intermission, clearly succeeding as a main feature.

Restorations branches out from their comfort zone as the album evolves.  “All My Home” wades in a haze of twinkly experimentation, taking the listener on a grand introspective journey, whereas those like “Most Likely A Spy” straddle the line between anthemic callouts and ritualistic shoegaze rockers.  Brown’s deeply ingrained vocals remain the undeniable constant – maintaining an earthy authenticity that never makes his towering presence overbearing or invasive.  As with Restorations’ past effort, the album remains consistent but checks out after nine tunes and under forty minutes, ending on a particularly indulgent rock tangent sure to leave a lasting impression.

With clear homage to The Boss also heavily shaping their sound, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if they followed in label alumni The Gaslight Anthem’s footsteps, eventually amping up the charm and breaking out in a big way.  At this point though, it shouldn’t be assumed that LP3 will afford that breakout – the disc is quite artsy at its core, making it easily dismissed by those looking for a quick verse-chorus-verse fix.  But as long as Restorations steer clear of the mainstream airwaves, LP3 should find a proper and appreciative audience at shows and online.