Customer Reviews

Reconstruction Site

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album has no business being this good. After Left and Leaving and Fallow, I was extremely wary about buying the newest Weakerthans album because I thought there was NO chance that it would be anywhere near as brilliant as those two albums. I've been disappointed lately by new albums from my old favorite bands, and I was setting myself up for a major disappointment.
That said, this is the best Weakerthans release yet. I don't say that flippantly. The first two albums were works of genius, and this one is BETTER than either of the first two. I defy anyone to name a bad Weakerthans song. The lyrics are clever, heartbreaking, and profound. I've heard them referred to as "literate". That's 100% appropriate.
The music is technically sound. The album exists as individual songs and as a unified whole.
And once again, John K Samson's vocals are AMAZINGLY good.
This album is smarter than emo or punk, but is more listenable than most intelli-art-rock garbage. It's punky, folsky, serious music that makes me laugh. I'm an English major, and very picky about literature, but I can unabashedly say that this is poetry set to music.
This album is perfect.

They're my favorite band and I'm 50. They're my daughter's favorite band and she's 14. I'm not sure what that means but I'll bet it means something. Every Saturday we have to drive to another city ninety minutes away, and we listen to The Weakerthans both going and coming. Like just about every other reviewer here, I'm amazed by the wit and beauty of the lyrics. Many songwriters who are particularly gifted lyricists - Springsteen comes to mind - give the impression of writing the lyrics first and then jamming them into a melody as best they can. But in these songs everything fits; the words and music carry each other along perfectly, no matter how long or complex the sentences may be (e.g., "I don't want a second chance to turn my stuttering reluctance into romance, with these documents and kindergarten anthems, with my drunken liturgies"). There's lots about this album I have yet to understand, like why three of the songs, the ones in parentheses, share the same melody. Obviously they're connected, but how? I guess I'll have to keep listening to find out. Not the worst fate I can imagine.

I must say, if this cd had completely different lyrics, I would not have bought it. The lyrics make the album. And I must also say, the music is not always spectacular, but I love the originality, humor, and intelligence in these lyrics. There are probably 3 or 4 great songs that I love on this album, the others having good lyrics but not spectacular music. Some songs have elements of country music, which I'm not a huge fan of, with slide guitars and what not. But when I listen to the songs, I just listen to the lyrics and I don't really care about the other stuff. If that bothers you, don't buy this album. But otherwise, I hope you appreciate the intelligence and originality that makes this album what it is.

I have never loved three consecutive albums by any band as much as The Weakerthans three releases. The only string of albums by one band that even comes close in my mind is Bad Religion in the late 80s with "Suffer," "No Control" and "Against the Grain." But The Weakerthans blow those three releases out of the water. Simply beautifully crafted, poetic, harmonious music and lyrics.

I, like a previous reviewer, was nervous upon picking up "Reconstruction Site." The band had left G7 Welcoming Committee to join Epitaph. Nothing against Epitaph at all, but change can sometimes be bad. Not in this case. Basically, more people will get to hear The Weakerthans now. And, while I don't want to see them on MTV anytime soon, some recognition in the United States for this amazing Canadian foursome wouldn't be a bad thing.

They are also a tremendous live band. I just caught them in Austin on Monday night (09/24/03), and they had the audience captivated for an almost-two-hour set. They played a great mix of new and old, only leaving out one song I really wanted to hear, "Psalm For The Elks Lodge Last Call." I'm not going to try to nail them down into one category, because their songs jump all over from punk to country to folk to slam poetry to straight-ahead rock 'n' roll.

I picked up a copy of The Weakerthans "Fallow" a few years back because it had a cover of "Anchorless," originally done by singer John Samson's previous band, Propagandhi. Samson had always been my favorite part of Propagandhi, and since he left I haven't really liked their efforts. Luckily I can still hear Samson on The Weakerthans, because he truly is a musical/lyrical genius.

Not to take away from the remaining members of The Weakerthans, because they are all fine and multi-talented musicians. Their timing and stage presence make the band the complete package that it is. Well, I'm rambling and I think my point has been made. A superb band, live and recorded. All of their albums would make my top 10 list, if I ever get around to writing one.

Any one of these qualities is extremely hard to find in any band around today, so it's something like a miracle that the Weakerthans have all three.

The reviewer who said anyone who says you'll like this if you like DCFC is a liar, is probably right. DCFC is pretentious and callow, with a lyricist that always seems like he's trying to prove to the world that he's smart and songs that are more heavy handed than touching. Basically they sound like a bunch of slightly above average teenagers who somehow think they're brilliant. I should know. I'm a teenager. I actually kind of like DCFC (except transatlanticism which is plagued with bad metaphors about clouds over the atlantic), they're of my kind. But the Weakerthans completely blow them away in all respects.

The Weakerthans songs (authored by John K Samson, yeah, the Propaghandi dude) are imbued with this weird sort of quirky self-evident cleverness. He doesn't have to prove anything, because he's smart. We know he's smart and literate. It comes across in the songs, despite or because of their beautiful simplicity. End of story. They're intelligent, they're earnest, they're touching, they're great. The man is an excellent writer, he's talented, got a great gift. Period. The rock in a weird folksy sort of way and I've been ADDICTED to these CDs and they haven't annoyed me yet.

DCFC wears me out every other week (that's the pretention in the lyrics it gets annoying quick).

So, yeah, if you like DCFC you might not like the Weakerthans. But then again if you like Stephen King you might not like Dostoevsky. It's the difference between being pretty good, and pretty f***ing awesome.

Hey fellow Amazonian, have you heard this band The Weakerthans? Have you been scared off by ghosts of past Canadian bands past thinking wishing Canadian Bare Naked Ladies was merely a strip club in Toronto? Well, if you don't try the Weakerthans, you just may be missing out on the next Canadian musical revolution. How would one describe the tune-age on The Weakerthans' "Reconstruction Site?" Highbrowed literate power-pop-alt Country-ish, comes close. When I think of like bands with like sounds, Centro-matic, Old 97's, and Limbeck all come to mind but The Weakerthans seems to give us the best of all worlds in a nice package that can still make you feel a little punk while feeling a little creative writing college at the same time. Perhaps you'll see what I mean here.

"A Plea from a Cat Named Virtue," finds lead singer John K. Sampson's cat the narrator and it is pure classic witticism. I know what you are saying, this doesn't sound like the power punk pop I'm used to down here in the good 'ole U S of freakin' A...well these are Canadians, stay with me here. Sampson sings, "So, we should open up the house. / Invite the tabby two doors down. / You could ask your sister, if / she doesn't bring her Basset Hound. / Ask of things you shouldn't miss: / tape-hiss and the Modern Man, / The Cold War and Card Catalogues, / to come and join us if they can." Hmmm...doesn't sound like Offspring or Weezer you very well may agree. Well that's the point dear punk-ish listener. Give the Weakerthans a chance and you'll be converted to the Northern revolution and if you are a listener of the lyrics you just might learn something and want to take action and rebel for some worthy cause...what's more punk than that? The Sex Pistols?

There are a few other album highlights here but let me say on the whole each song has some quality listenable material. If any detractor should be mentioned there is a little bit of too much the sameness, the same sound threaded throughout the songs but that's a minor one mind you. Let me now talk about the aptly titled, "Our Retired Explorer (Dines with Michele Foucault in Paris, 1961)," which really isn't so much a punk song title as it is a art nuveau literary piece appearing in your favorite Canadian creative quarterly. Sampson again pens, "Just one more drink and then I should be on my way home / I'm not enterely sure what your talking about / I've had a really nice time but my dogs need to be fed / I must say that in the right light you look like Shackleton / Comment allez-vous ce soir? Je suis comme ci comme ça / Yes, a penguin taught me French back in Antarctica / Oh, I could show you the way shadows colonize snow." Are you lost yet? Well believe it or not the lyrics do make some hyper-literate sense moreso than the sometimes inane worldplay of Michael Stipe.

Get this CD. Listen to it. Love it. You won't regret it. ...mmw

I totally disagree with the previous reviewer that said the Weakerthans used to be "edgier" or more rough. From Fallow to this album their music has been just plain great and frankly has never been rough. Edgy? No, that's not the Weakerthans style.

My wife and I recently saw them in L.A. at a small venue and I have to say that John Samson and the rest of the band are amazing to watch. They just purely enjoy playing their music and yes, John always had a smile on stage and seemed like one of those people who found that thing they were always meant to do. His music is a reflection of how he plays. His unpretentious lyrics and child-like freedom are a breath of fresh air in an era of watered-down talent. When you listen to these songs it's like riding an emotion.

I saw Tom Petty play recently and the Weakerthans seem to have that same love and passion for what they're doing.

I HIGHLY recommend this album and both of the other two albums. The Weakerthans have progressed their music into something magical. Addicting and never tiresome. Weakerthans are the best band no one has ever heard of.

I have been a fan of the Weakerthans since their first release and this is definitely my favourite album they have put out. It is the type of album that you can play on repeat (without skipping a track, of course) over and over and over and enjoy it just as much everytime.

I would also like to add that they are one of the best live acts I have ever seen. I enjoy the fact that they are totally mellow while completely rocking out at the same time. My favourite part about watching them is that John has this huge smile on his face the ENTIRE time. He radiates happiness and not a trace of pretentiousness/cockiness. Their music makes me feel good, and I never want it to end.

To call this band "literate," would be an understatement, and to call this album simply "good," or "clever," would be an understatement so gross that it would be an exaggeration of...

I came into this cd only knowing two songs "Psalm for the Elks Lodge..." and "The Prescience of Dawn", and admiring them greatly for the their lyrical genius, and gloriously soothing melodies. The lyrics on this record operate more like short, detailed descriptions of time and place that you would find scribbled in a journal under some early twentysomething's bed. They are verses built around the ideas of discovering loss, true happiness, and in some cases, the glory of obsession with small details and the thought processes of house cats.

What you will find here is endlessly entertaining, and musically and lyrically sound without being technical, or outright anal.

With Matthew Good, and now the Weakerthans, Canada is proving itself to me slowly. One day we might be friends.

Just a quick note as a survivor of the new wave 80's and then the grunge 90's it is so rewarding to hear so many good bands out there, this is a great time to be a listener of music. OK, on to this partcular achievement. This is my first Weakerthans purchase. I really like this CD. I cannot classify it in the sub-genre's you young un's use (lo-fi, Alt-coutnry, Etc...). I just know it is good. I hope it is OK to say what it REMINDS me of without out other reviewers coming down on me. Mind you I am not comparing it to any other artists, but like the Decemberists and Neutral Milk this guy writes great lyrics. I also am reminded of Neil Young, Super XX man and Silver Scooter.

The music is honest and mature, with a sense of humor. I love the idea of having his cat write him a song! All the tracks are excellent and set a mood of the vast Canadian landscape where this groups hails form. Echoing, stark and sometimes depressing, (but always with a hopeful note).

These songs are short stories set to a folky beat and they work very, very well!