The Long Winters - Putting the Days to Bed

John Roderick's songwriting, in the past, has been delicately innocuous; last year's Ultimatum EP offered a handful of endearing and introspective quiet moments, scattered through sparkling acoustic numbers and a heart-wrenching title track. The Long Winters' third LP delivers a rocking side that was only half-present in the past, and further establishes Roderick as one of this generation's most consistent and impressive songwriters. As a writer, Roderick emulates the stylings of '60s pop and '70s power-pop, in addition to pulling bits and piececs from iconic '90s indie rockers. Unlike many of his peers, however, Roderick lacks the ability (or desire) to sing charmingly in a high register, and instead asserts himself with enthusiastic mid-range vocalizing. Relationships with the fairer sex once again crop up as a primary lyrical subject, though in an endearing, detached way. My initial response to the tracklisting for Putting the Days to Bed was questioning whether or not a reworked "Ultimatum" could rise above and beyond its original version from last year's EP. If you're wondering--it doesn't. That is, if the original sounded like one of the sweetest, most tear-jerkingly tracks that would make your ex take you back if said ex had even the slightest hint of a heart. The sparseness is replaced with a full band onslaught, with some of the lyrical sentiment lost to excessive (though admirable) instrumentation. "Pushover" sounds like Joe Pernice and Alex Chilton set out to write a track together, winding classic pop structure with a melodramatic lead-in to its cascading climax. "Teaspoon" adds a brass element, though the lines aren't as memorable as Roderick's repetition of the song's title. "Sky is Open" pulls a drum machine from nowhere, lending a modicum of harshness to the group's typically harmless sound, but Roderick delves into fluffy harmonies and twinkling keys almost immediately. Though it doesn't live up to the high expectations its preceding EP had built, Putting the Days to Bed still warrants its share of critical praise. Roderick's mastery of songcraft is nigh on perfection, but he's got a few more boulders to climb to reach the pinnacle. [www.barsuk.com]