Tom Lynch

Ontario’s Constantines have been crafting genre-bending rock ‘n’ roll records for some time now—both "Shine a Light" (2003) and "Tournament of Hearts" (2005), each on Sub Pop, are memorable blends of classic rock and Fugazi-like structuring—and this month’s "Kensington Heights" (Arts & Crafts) might be the band’s best effort yet, brooding and heavy, guitars squealing and warping into one another. Bryan Webb’s tough-guy gruff still leads the Constantines’ charge—this is a voice built for rock music, and it’s finally reached a level of experience that makes it really hit home. The album’s more passive moments, like the powerful "Trans Canada," offer a slight relaxation period (plus, in this song’s case, benefits from a nice back-up harmony), and then it’s right into the slow build of "Shower of Stones," a strange marathon that tumbles and wrecks into a lovable mess. Even the pretty "Our Age" recalls the balladry of The Replacements. And for me, it’s difficult to beat that.

Constantines play April 24 at Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)276-3600, at 9pm. $12. (2008-04-22)

Also by Tom Lynch

On Almost Any Wednesday Evening
Amidst the late-day upheaval that is Michigan Avenue at 5pm on a Wednesday, the Apple Store, bombarded with mid-nineties alt-rock thrill-seekers, has a distinct voice clamoring from its upstairs theater area, that of Adam Duritz
(2008-04-15)

Scout's Honor
Emma Louise Niblett—or, Scout—has always found a fascinating way to unleash her demons, even through sparse instrumentation that’s often only included a single instrument and her voice. The English songwriter—who resides in Portland—has crafted a bundle of records in the last five years, including her kind-of breakout, 2005’s "Kidnapped by Neptune," and, most recently, last year’s "This Fool Can Die Now"
(2008-04-15)

Soundcheck
Last fall’s "All Hour Cymbals," Brooklyn newcomer Yeasayer’s debut record, rode on the strength of the single "2080," a guess-what?-we’re-fucked look into a future just over seventy years from now. The real grabber, though, was the sound—blending folk with a Middle Eastern space-rock freak-out, Yeasayer mashed sounds that, before this, shouldn’t have ever been dumped into the same pot
(2008-04-08)

Soundcheck
Local pop group Head of Femur (whose members are Nebraskans in origin) went through a bit of a reinvention a couple years ago when the band decided to strip down the elements it was most known for—the endless barrage of instruments on stage, horns to strings to whatever else—and go with the bare essentials, finally fastening itself as a five-piece
(2008-04-08)

Tip of the Week
(2008-04-08)

Lucky You
(2008-04-01)

Tip of the Week
(2008-04-01)

Death Knell
(2008-03-25)

Tip of the Week
(2008-03-25)

Garbage Man
(2008-03-18)

Tip of the Week
(2008-03-18)

The Turn of the Century
(2008-03-18)

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