Constantines

Hailing from Guelph, Ontario, the Constantines exploded onto the Canadian independent music scene in 2001 with their self-titled debut, a complex collection of songs that pose questions without offering any clear answers. The band's lyrics read like the poetry of revolution, whether calling for the death of rock & roll (on the opening track, "Arizona"), storming metaphorical Bastilles on "Some Party," or turning a cliché Rod Stewart lyric ("Young hearts be free tonight/Time is on your side") into an earnest rallying cry on "Young Offenders." As good as the preceding tracks are, however, none of them prepare the listener for the abrupt left turn that occurs with "St. You," a powerfully mournful ballad (with lyrics worthy of Nick Cave or even Leonard Cohen) that ends in a wash of feedback, signaling the beginning of the excellent instrumental, "The McKnight Life." The final three tracks on the disc are just as strong as the rest, with "Steal This Sound" and "To the Lullabies" (sounding like they could have been featured in the film Fight Club) featuring lyrics such as "You sing like dynamite tonight/as we race through downtown financial sectors glowing, and we serenade with car alarms." Overall, the Constantines' debut is a stunningly strong effort, well worth repeated listens.