Labels: Tiny Engines
Review by: Sean Haughton
Restorations’ full-length totally knocked me out of the park last year so I’m glad to hear more from them so soon. They often get described as a “punk band for old people” which I guess is partly true as they’re probably the only current band I can think of that come close to reminding me of Constantines. The similarities in sound from that LP continue here, but it’s pushed farther into “anthemic” territory, which works perfectly if that’s something you aren’t against. There’s some definite classic rock influence coming through as well. The nature of the band’s sound suits this bombastic production and I would hazard a guess the guys in this band aren’t against ‘Born To Run’. Normally this kind of thing would reek of trying to get on the radio or aiming for a major label but it just feels like the band naturally wrote two songs with massive stadium parts and it seemed like the best fit.
The singer’s voice is rough and smoky but not in that ridiculously forced way and there’s no hint of the kind of fifth-wave Hot Water Music worship that could have them pegged as a gruff punk band. Occasionally the second song reminds me in places of Broken Social Scene’s ‘You Forgot It In People’ which is no bad thing at all. At a stretch you could even look at it like a stadium-sized remodelling of Old Growth’s blueprint. I feel like if you previously liked this band this is far from a mis-step and a really strong 7″. If you aren’t aware of them it’s a good decider on whether or not it will be for you.