Philadelphia punk quintet Restorations take a different approach to punk in their newest album LP2. LP2 takes heavy influence from The Melvins, ’90s rock groups like Soundgarden and even the lyrical style of Social Distortion with a pinch of post-grunge thrown in. The end result is a sound that is completely unlike any other band. The intricate strings, the gritty vocals and the raging bass lines all combine to create a sound that is potent, yet slightly boring. No song on LP2 stands out from the rest. Sure, they are all good songs, but with the exception of “Quit” none of the tracks on LP2 elicit any feeling past a generic acknowledgement that it’s good. It’s not as if there is anything wrong with these songs. Everything works together nicely, and Restorations may be some of the most skilled musicians in the punk realm. It’s just that everything comes together without making any real emotional impact.

(SideOneDummy Records, PO Box 2350, Hollywood, CA 90078)