| · A little restraint goes a long way.
The lead-off guitar riff on Wire Post to Wire holds all the promise of a raging post-rock powder keg. As "Metropolitan" continues, the promise of that may not be fulfilled, but something much more valuable is given in its place. Where most bands would rip the song open with multi-tracked guitars duelling it out for supremacy, Portland, Oregon’s The Standard opt instead to use a shaker. A shaker, for God’s sake. As a result, Tim Putnam’s warbled cries are pushed to the front without sacrificing the rest of the band. This introduction to their sophomore effort proves to be the perfect calling card for the rest of the record.
Despite the liberal use of piano, it’s a bit of a surprise to see The Standard moving to the roots-based Yep Roc Records from the uber-hip Touch and Go (which released their 2001 album August). They may be a bit of an anomaly on their label, but when the music is this good, it doesn’t matter where it comes from. The cold, metallic percussion is a perfect foil for the elliptical guitar riffs and crisp production. Songs take their time without dragging and Putnam’s lyrics prove that they are worthy of being so high in the mix. With Wire Post to Wire, The Standard find the balance between heartfelt organic tone and detached cool and, with their restraint, give the listener no choice but to turn it up.
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