On the Impossible Past explained

On the Impossible Past
Type:studio
Artist:The Menzingers
Cover:The menzingers - on the impossible past.jpg
Recorded:2011
Length:41:31
Label:Epitaph
Producer:Matt Allison
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On the Possible Past
Type:EP
Artist:The Menzingers
Cover:On The Possible Past artwork.png
Released:February 21, 2012
Recorded:2011
Genre:Acoustic punk
Length:22:01
Label:Epitaph

On the Impossible Past is the third studio album by American punk rock band The Menzingers. It was released by Epitaph Records on February 21, 2012. The album was met with widespread acclaim by music critics, with the aggregating website Metacritic calculating an average score of 93 out of 100.[1]

Track listing

All songs written, composed and performed by The Menzingers

On the Possible Past

Pre-orders of the album included a cassette titled On the Possible Past, which contains demos recorded during the winter and spring of 2011. The collection was released on a one time pressing of 1,000 on green vinyl by Epitaph Records.[2]

  1. "Good Things" – 2:18
  2. "Burn" – 2:15
  3. "Ava" – 2:46
  4. "Sun Hotel" – 3:51
  5. "Sculptors and Vandals" – 2:22
  6. "Casey" – 3:18
  7. "I Can't Seem to Tell" – 2:33
  8. "Freedom Bridge" – 2:38

Reception

Critical response

On the Impossible Past garnered critical acclaim upon its release.[1] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream music critics, the album received an average score of 93, based on nine reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[1] AllMusic writer Gregory Heaney awarded the album four stars out of five and praised its "wryly nostalgic performance, giving a nod to their punk roots as they embrace the rugged earnestness of the Rust Belt with songs about broken hearts, loneliness, and self-doubt." Thomas Nassiff of AbsolutePunk called the album "sweeping, driven, masterful" as he scored it a near-perfect 9.5/10. He confessed that despite "review[ing] albums every week, I just can't seem to fully explain my adoration" for it, before summarizing On the Impossible Past "is an album that should have come out decades ago...this is something that has no expiration date." Steve Lepore of PopMatters called the album "an impeccably crafted melodic hardcore record by a group ready for its close-up." The album also received favorable reviews from the BBC and Exclaim![3] [4]

Accolades

Accolades for On the Impossible Past! Publication! Country! Accolade! Rank
AbsolutePunkUnited StatesAP.net Staff List: Top 30 Albums of 2012[5] 1
Frontier PsychiatristThe Top 50 Albums of 2012[6] 26
MetacriticBest Under-the-Radar Releases[7] 2
PunknewsBest of 2012 – Staff Picks[8] 1
SputnikmusicStaff's Top 50 Albums of 2012[9] 25
Kerrang!United KingdomThe K! Critics' Top 101 Albums of the Year13
Rock SoundThe 50 Best Albums of 2012[10] 1
This Is Fake DIYDIY Albums of 2012[11] 20
Thrash HitsThe Thrash Hits Top 20 Albums of 2012[12] 6

Personnel

The Menzingers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: On The Impossible Past Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More. CBS Interactive. Metacritic. 11 May 2012.
  2. Web site: The Menzingers to release 'On the Possible Past' on vinyl . November 27, 2012 .
  3. Web site: Stunning third album from maudlin Pennsylvania punks. Lawrence, Alistair. BBC Music. BBC. 29 February 2012. 11 May 2012.
  4. Web site: The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past. Villeneuve, Nicole. Exclaim!. 29 February 2012. 11 May 2012.
  5. Web site: AP.net Staff List: Top 30 Albums of 2012 . Tate, Jason. . . 3 December 2012 . 3 April 2013.
  6. Web site: Lopez . L. V . The Top 50 Albums of 2012 . Frontier Psychiatrist. 7 December 2012 . 23 April 2013.
  7. Web site: Dietz . Jason. The Best Albums of 2012. . CBS Interactive. 21 December 2012 . 3 April 2013.
  8. Web site: Best of 2012 - Staff Picks . Punknews. Buzz Media. 28 December 2012 . 3 April 2013.
  9. Web site: Freeman, Channing . Staff's Top 50 Albums of 2012: 30 – 11. Sputnikmusic . 3 January 2013 . 3 April 2013.
  10. Web site: Features: Rock Sound's 50 Best Albums Of 2012 Part Five!. Staff. Freeway Press. . 21 December 2012. 3 April 2013.
  11. Web site: Jamieson, Sarah. DIY Albums Of 2012: 20-11. This Is Fake DIY. 6 December 2013 . 3 April 2013.
  12. Web site: Doyle, Tom. The Thrash Hits Top 20 Albums of 2012. Thrash Hits. 13 December 2013 . 3 April 2013.