Shine a Light

Constantines

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2003)
• Original Release Date: August 19, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B0000A59WE
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #87,751 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The first pressing of the The Constantines' self-titled (and Juno Award-nominated) debut (released on Three Gut Records in 2001) was fittingly packaged so that, upon opening the red cardstock booklet, you'd find a single strike anywhere match. In an effort to not ruin the beauty and poignancy of a thing through over-explanation, suffice it to say that if your relationship with rock and roll is not fundamentally a quest for fire (elemental, transformative, consuming), you've missed the point. This from Magnet magazine: "They're young offenders with sharpened teeth who make grinding, literate punk with the elasti-to-explosive guitars heard on Fugazi's "Smallpox Champion," the stark lyrical economy of a Vonnegut-penned newspaper obituary..." And: "The Constantines are old souls in young bodies-guys in their early 20s who sound like Joe Strummer backed by Fugazi - making music that wakes the sleeping and the dead." Shine a Light is The Constantines' second full-length and first for Sub Pop (Three Gut continues as the band's home north of the border).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm swooning, March 24, 2004

By	C. SKALA (London, United Kingdom United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great album. Ignore all the Boss comparisons. The Constantines' lead vocalist sounds much more like Joe Strummer, but with a soulful edge to his voice; and the lyrics are oblique yet direct, anthemic without being didactic. Musically, the band evince a tough but loose style of playing which threatens at times to fly apart but always finds its way back to a groove. All-in-all, this music rocks in the right way: political, heart-felt, humorous and funky.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light the way, September 16, 2003

By	Geoffrey S. Hineman (Traverse City, MI United States) - See all my reviews

When the Constantines self-titled debut dropped in 2001, the music press correctly likened their sound and attitude to Fugazi, the Clash, and Bruce Springsteen. That's pretty heady praise for some Canadian lads who, by their own admission, just want to make people dance. With their sophomore release, Shine a Light, the Constantines show some other influences, and fold it all into a sound completely their own.

The first cut, "National Hum" is pure punk-rock fury in the vain of the pioneers. It demands your attention and that's what an opening track is supposed to do. The production is so "garage" that you can almost the smell gas can in the corner, unlike the Blink 41 bubblegum punk on local radio.

A pleasant surprise is the third track, "Nighttime/Any time (It's Alright)". A finger-lickin' chicken pickin' guitar diddle at the beginning is joined by a half-time drum and bass groove that is reminiscent of Sunny Day Real Estate. For a listen, stop by www.subpop.com and check out the MP3 section.

The vocals often draw comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, but they are the strongest on "Insectivora" and "Goodbye Baby & Amen" where they bear a strong resemblance to Tom Waites, both in delivery and lyric content.

Note for note, the best cut on the album is "Scoundrel Babes". It's the greatest song the Clash never wrote. With reggae overtones and gang vocals, you can't help bopping to it and throwing out the occasional "Oye!"

The Constantines are that rare breed of band, much like Fugazi or Nirvana, that inspires kids to start bands. They can be appreciated for so many reasons because their music is honest, raw, and intelligent. And after Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion, and Avril Lavigne, our Canuck neighbors owed us this one.

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Toward the Light, March 17, 2004

By	T.D. Wingfield (Chicago) - See all my reviews

Saw these guys recently in Chicago, cemented everything I already knew: best album of the year, best leadman around (voice, songwriter, entertainer) and the best showmanship I've ever seen played out at a live show. Yes, these guys do tend to sound a bit like Fugazi, but they jam more. They let chords and riffs drone and reverberate, they let the lush sound of a leadsinger's vocals echo out over whining, bleeting guitars and rolling, folding, minimalist drumming. Think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club meets Crooked Fingers meets Fugazi and a dash of Spoon... But I hate comparisons. For godsake, Bry Webb sounds like Joe Cocker and Bruce Springsteen in their prime-- writing beautiful songs... Oh, and the best part (I don't think many people will know this) in their lush, keyboard driven song "Goodbye Baby and Amen," they cop a few lyrics from Randy Newman's great little ditty "I Think It's Going To Rain Today." Sub Pop still shines, Canada hits another '03 homerun along with Broken Social Scene and The New Pornographers. Long live good, unique rock 'n' roll!