Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Music
Okay, okay. I know I've been neglecting you. (Question: is "you" you, or am I talking to the site?) That's because my last year of University is like a game of Breakout. I have to keep running around keeping that ball in the air or it'll get past me. Then the screen will flash and I'll lose a life... I guess. The point is, I'll be preoccupied until the rest of the bricks are broken. So, in the meantime I've decided to post some of my homework, which is actually pretty rad and not like work at all. I have to write 200 short reviews about songs of my choosing. Here's number one...
(Also, check out Breakout 360)
The Constantines: “Justice” The Constantines (2001)
According to Three Gut Records, The Constantines “come from a planet held together by extension chords and safety pins.” (threegutrecords.com) Maybe by way of Guelph, Ontario where they founded in 1999. “Justice” is from their first, self-titled album which was released in 2001 and garnered a Juno nomination for Best Alternative Album. It also came close to breaking the record for the longest charting album in campus radio history. (subpop.com) The Constantines’ grass-roots grass-fire success is linked to that of their original record label, Three Gut Records, which grew out of the fertile soil surrounding Guelph 4-track genius, Jim Guthrie and still bears his (backwards) name.
Justice uses a slightly more developed version of the loud/quiet dynamic that is common in alternative music and which became a cliché in 90’s “grunge”. The song opens a solo organ intro, joined quickly by the band in a fairly subdued mode for the first verse. When the chorus, “you shock me” hits, the lead guitar repeats a high chord, only to cut out along with the bass and drums as the song returns to the solo organ after the chorus. For the last chorus, both guitars play intensely and build until the song. The Constantines are interesting for lyrics like, “that Eucharistic beatbox can take some shocks,” which are surprisingly verbose for a rock song. Justice, along with the rest of the album was recorded at The House of Miracles in London by prolific Ontario indie producer, Andy Magoffin. So, it’s interesting to note the backing vocals by Lorien Jones, formerly of London’s The Weekend. Her sweet harmonies contrast the gruffness of Bry Webb’s lead vocals.
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(Also, check out Breakout 360)
The Constantines: “Justice” The Constantines (2001)
According to Three Gut Records, The Constantines “come from a planet held together by extension chords and safety pins.” (threegutrecords.com) Maybe by way of Guelph, Ontario where they founded in 1999. “Justice” is from their first, self-titled album which was released in 2001 and garnered a Juno nomination for Best Alternative Album. It also came close to breaking the record for the longest charting album in campus radio history. (subpop.com) The Constantines’ grass-roots grass-fire success is linked to that of their original record label, Three Gut Records, which grew out of the fertile soil surrounding Guelph 4-track genius, Jim Guthrie and still bears his (backwards) name.
Justice uses a slightly more developed version of the loud/quiet dynamic that is common in alternative music and which became a cliché in 90’s “grunge”. The song opens a solo organ intro, joined quickly by the band in a fairly subdued mode for the first verse. When the chorus, “you shock me” hits, the lead guitar repeats a high chord, only to cut out along with the bass and drums as the song returns to the solo organ after the chorus. For the last chorus, both guitars play intensely and build until the song. The Constantines are interesting for lyrics like, “that Eucharistic beatbox can take some shocks,” which are surprisingly verbose for a rock song. Justice, along with the rest of the album was recorded at The House of Miracles in London by prolific Ontario indie producer, Andy Magoffin. So, it’s interesting to note the backing vocals by Lorien Jones, formerly of London’s The Weekend. Her sweet harmonies contrast the gruffness of Bry Webb’s lead vocals.
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