Reconstruction Site [ENHANCED]

Weakerthans

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 26, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Epitaph / Ada
• ASIN: B0000AGWJG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,170 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

John Sampson continues to sharpen the contrast between the noisy agitprop of his former band Propagandhi and the low-key melodicism of his current one on this, the Winnipeg-based Weakerthans third full album. Forcefully literate (Sampson spent time between his two musical projects writing and launching a small publishing business) yet wed to a coolly urgent alt-pop musical sense that nicely underplays his self-conscious musings on personal obsessions that variously take in the title track's introspective impressionism, the poisonous nature of nostalgic, ritual cronyism on "Psalm For the Elks Lodge Last Call," and the acoustic poison-pen letter to his native Winnipeg, "One Great City." Propelled by a straightforward, occasionally jangly electric guitar assault, yet lightly seasoned with deft horn touches, pedal steel and simple harmonies, it's an album that's smart at every level. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Sonically located in the finest tradition of Punk, The Weakerthans walk an archipelago of influences from rock to folk to alt-country and beyond, led by lyrics tutored in the best of contemporary literature and progressive politics. 14 tracks packaged in a digipak. Includes the music video for the track 'Our Retired Explorer' & other bonus CD-ROM content. Epitaph. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Boggling...they're getting BETTER, August 26, 2003

By	ralphvirus "ralphvirus2" (Brookline, MA) - See all my reviews

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A CD for true music lovers, October 5, 2003

By	Andrew Saum "lessmxgold" (Friendswood, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I fell in love with The Weakerthans the first time I heard "Everything Must Go" (Alternative Version) on the SubCity sampler. Left & Leaving was one of my favorite albums, but when I heard they signed to Epitaph, I feared the worst for John & the guys. Thankfully I was wrong.

While Reconstruction Site is more upbeat (musically) and not quite as melancholy as Left & Leaving, it can more than hold its own against their previous masterpiece. The more I listen to it, the more I am convinced that this is their best work to date. Ranging from punk flavored folk to alt. country to straight up rock, this latest effort by this fabulous Winnipeg group is musically diverse and lyrically sound.

Speaking of lyrics, John K.'s lyrics are as poignant as ever and the vocals are perhaps the best he has ever laid down. He (and the rest of the band) seem to have benefitted greatly from the extra money that was surely pumped into this thing by Epitaph. Nice & clean sound, but not overproduced.

Overall I would say that this is a definate must if you are a weakerthans fan and if not, it's most certainly worth a look. Heck, I might go as far as calling it album of the year...of course the new (and final) Strummer cd comes out this year as well, so we'll have to see about that.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One great band, December 13, 2006

By	RKR in FLA (Gainesville, FL, USA) - See all my reviews

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.