More than 30 years later, that ideal’s been lost to antiquity, buried under a mudslide of safety pins, studded leather and mis-remembered, over-simplified recollections of punk’s glory days. For a few brief moments, nothing seemed out of reach, then stereotypes, cliches and expectations went and fouled everything up.

If there’s a band that delivers a crystal-clear reminder of how much punk’s spirit could have really accomplished if it wasn’t shoehorned into a cliche, it’s The Revisions. Approaching its music in that rushed-to-distraction fashion that milked greatness out of rugged albums by everyone from The Germs and The Sex Pistols to The Clorox Girls (who lend The Revisions a member with front man Justin Maurer) and The Briefs, The Revisions pick up a love for pop that can’t be contained by conventional definitions of punk. At the same time, the sharp bass tones, airy natural-room reverb and clattering melodies on Revised Observations are obviously a byproduct of more conventional punk sounds.

That strands The Revisions somewhere between acoustic-punk rabble-rousers and cutting-edge pop champions. And if that sounds like an awkward place to be, it’s only because you haven’t heard The Revisions make a pop paradise out of that no man’s land. The act’s pop-punk roots have the most obvious influence on its sound, with tracks like “On the Lam” and “Where I Stay” taking high-octane melodies through their workout, sans buzzing amplification. The Revisions are more than just another entry into the folk-punk world, though, as Revised Observations catches the trio veering away from punk simplicity for subtle sophistication. “No More Wars” wraps up a punk-like tale of religious disillusionment in a sparse string arrangement that could be en elegy for coy chamber pop. “Lead Pill” doesn’t rely on white-spark energy so much as a whole lot of soul, as Maurer leads the band through a number where piano and acoustic strumming share the spotlight. “Vagabond” could be a searing spy-punk number, with its Peter-Gunn like bass line, though the unplugged atmosphere gives it a whole new context.

Revised Observations is the sort of album we’d be getting left and right if the future punk’s founding fathers envisioned ever took hold. A future where Elvis Costello was king of pop, where heartfelt songwriting was all it took to impress the world and, most importantly, where bands could do anything they wanted free of expectations. Instead we’re stuck with a strangling genre full of scene police and look-alikes. Thank God there’s still a few bands like The Revisions still able to live out the dream.
- Matt Schild

Reviewed by AllMusic.com

Hovering somewhere between punk-pop and emo, the Revisions set themselves apart from their peers in both subgenres by performing their material on acoustic instruments, and on their debut album, Revised Observations, the gambit certainly works in their favor. While Douglas Burns and Hajji Husayn’s songs might have sounded rather ordinary run through a stack of Marshall amps, here the melodies are carried by the thick strum of their acoustic guitars, bringing their tuneful side to the forefront, and Burns’ vocals get a chance to shine without having to compete with the buzzsaw roar of an electric band. Burns is already known for his work with the Observers and the Red Dons, and his command of the studio is obvious on Revised Observations; while the songs may be melodically simple, his performances are emotionally rich, and the rhythmic support from Husayn on acoustic bass and Derek Skokan on drums gives the tunes a drive that’s effective without robbing the sessions of their intimacy. Pat Kearns’ production and engineering is understated but gives the music all the space it needs, and if this is punk that doesn’t rant, it does make its point with smarts and passion, and it’s an impressive musical detour for Burns as well as an object lesson in how to make yourself heard without a massive P.A,.
- Mark Deming

Reviewed by Delusions of Adequacy

Revisions is made of cats from bands tearing it up in Portland: Justin Maurer from the Clorox girls, Douglas Burns of the Observers and Red Dons, Hajji Husayn from Clorox Girls and Red Dons and Richie Joachim from The Speds (a band which Burns was once a part of as well). Not only do they have original songs, they also play some cuts originally played by Observers and The Speds. Who knew that such incest could create such a solid acoustic-punk band? Revised Observations is stripped down to punk’s most basic elements and it’s all played on acoustic guitars. Regardless, its one of the most punk records I’ve heard in a long time.

I’ll start this off talking about my favorite song on the album, “No Wars”. This is by far one of the best protest songs I’ve heard in a really long time. The lyrics are just plain brilliant and the emotion is deeply felt thanks to the song being dominated by a violin and cello. Listening to it for a second time, I realized how much Douglas Burns’ vocals evoke a more youthful Greg Graffin. “Lead Pill” the opener is a good introduction to the record as it is sort of an amalgamation of what you will find on the rest of the record. Upbeat acoustics, a little piano here and there, and harmonizing vocals. The only problem would have to be the length. It is the longest song on the album and it feels as such.

The anticipation at the beginning of “Where I Stay” lead me to believe the group were going into a distorted sound, but of course this is an acoustic band. Still, the energy of a band playing distorted guitars was there, sometimes even more so. “Breathe Again” is another upbeat song with a little piano that adds more than it lets up. It’s simple, yet effective. “On the Lam” is a fun little song with a catchy-as-hell chorus. It could have easily been a pretty hardcore song had it been played on distorted guitars, but I’m not complaining.

“Out of Reach” is a snot nosed punk song if there ever was one. This is one very reminiscent of the Ramones with a fun sing-along chorus: “We don’t care what you’re talking about/We don’t care what you have to say”. I love it. “Empty House”, though filled with good ideas and solid vocal work, feels a little out of place. Besides the “Outro” the last full song “Walk Alone” is just plain awesome. It has a really cool little piano line peppered throughout and the lyrics are very political.

Revisions has made one of the best punk albums I’ve heard in years. I’ve recently reviewed other punk albums, but this one is taking the cake above those in recent memory. And the strange part is that this album is the only one that’s all acoustic. Seek these guys out and you will not be disappointed.
-Jose Vela