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The Constantines

Tournament of Hearts
2005
Three Gut / Sub Pop

The Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Adam
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Published on October 11th 2005

On "St. You," a beautifully soulful acoustic number from the Constantines' debut, Bryan Webb sang "I'm soaked in kerosene / this is no gentleman's blues." That was a lie at the time, even more so now. The Constantines are very much gentleman's blues. They're a gentleman's rock band, a gentleman's punk band; a group with so many history-conscious romantic sensibilities that they extrude class on everything they've released.

Shine a Light featured a band driven, from the opening blast of "National Hum" through the moody cacophonies of the title track and single "Nightime." However, it laid its deepest hooks in uplifting, rootsy tunes like "Young Lions," "On to You" and "Sub-Domestic." Like many of their Three Gut contemporaries, this is a group raised on the Band and Neil Young as much as they were Fugazi and the Clash. Tournament of Hearts is a child of the former, if not in sound than in its pulse (to say nothing of its unashamed Canadiana title). This is a calmer, more relaxed outing, with the band focusing on subtlety, finding ways to force their fire into an unassumingly quiet package. This leads to long buildups with a burst of energy escaping its restraints in the last half-minutes of songs. Witness this in the retooled "Hotline Operator." The track, sharing a name and organ pulse with its B-side predecessor, has been completely refocused around this model. Listen for how the propulsive rhythm section is reined in for the chorus. It creates a pensive, controlled feel that lashes back in the last 40 seconds with Webb's raw-throated shout and an ever so brief outburst of guitar and drum.

Several ideas from Shine a Light come to greater fruition here. The mid-tempo, inspirational "Young Lions" finds its sequel in the album opening anthem "Draw Us Lines." The country sensibilities of "Sub-Domestic" become a stomping chorus in "Soon Enough." Savour the sincere, feel-good moment when Webb croons "Soon enough work and love will make a man out of you," proving himself one of the most effective vocalists in Canadian rock. "Love in Fear," "Lizaveta" and "Good Nurse" are songs that exemplify the band's current songwriting approach and form the emotional core of the record. "Working Full-Time" is perhaps closest in spirit to their prior album, and as such provides a propulsive, populist rock centrepiece for the album. Guitarist Steve Lambke contributes vocals to two songs, the moody "Thieves" and the fragile closing track "Windy Road." This is the most effective his unique, wispy singing voice has ever been. He adds a ghostly, ethereal quality to the latter half of the record and holds his own alongside Webb's work.

The concept shines through that this is a rural record. Shine a Light was decidedly urban, reflecting a paranoia bred on the streets of Toronto and a pace that kept up with the city. Its artwork featured a sea of cars and buildings twisting towards the sky like tentacles. Tournament of Hearts takes its time, finding its charm in open spaces and the piece-of-mind found in nature. Its liner notes reflect this as well: rocks, wolves, polar bears. The band has a preoccupation with the imagery of helicopters this time out. Is this the bridge between their two worlds? Their escape?

The fact that we can ask these questions proves the band is doing their job: Creating albums that stand as cohesive, captivating, substantial works of unpretentious rock art in an age where that's clearly an anomaly. We're better for it.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 4:30 PM (EDT)

what is synthasaurus can some one please answer back and why the tappin of the balls

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 2:28 PM (EDT)

Is this album named after the uber-popular curling tournament?
Hurry Hard!

-Not-to-Regret

Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-13 07:10:52
My Score:

This album is just above average, nothing more.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 2:57 AM (EDT)
My Score:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile &friendID=31029825&Mytoken=BBBEE792-EFAD-5ACF-FE6F115538F9336C267 56668

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 3:21 PM (EDT)
My Score:

This Score is for The Hold Steady.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 6:39 AM (EDT)
My Score:

"is this the same Constantine who was on American Idol last season?"

hahahah imagine that? the score is for the joy it brings me thinking about the american idols tour bus wrecking into the grand canyon.
-TOBB

Posted by lol_omg_wtf_nambla on 2005-10-12 01:35:35

Adam, your love for this band is what got me listening to 'em in the first place. Nicely done review, I shall pick this up at the show next week.

Posted by hungryjoe on 2005-10-12 00:05:51

Did anyone else here Neil Young's "White Line" in "Soon Enough"? I couldn't listen to it without expecting Neil's opening guitar riff.

Excellent album overall...could have done without "Windy Road" though...it just doesn't measure up to "St. You".

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 11:13 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Ewww. Score is for this band being the SWEATIEST live band that has ever existed.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 10:49 PM (EDT)

chinatown. one of the reviews is dedicated to you

Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-11 22:34:10

No it's the one from the movie

Posted by fallingupwards84 on 2005-10-11 22:26:10

is this the same Constantine who was on American Idol last season?

Posted by GreenVandal on 2005-10-11 21:43:00
My Score:

Deerhoof is awesome. This is better though.

Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-10-11 20:35:54

I can't stand her voice.

Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-11 20:21:51

The new album is different

Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-10-11 20:15:47

No Deerhoof sucks.

Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-11 20:12:08

This isn't the album of the year, Deerhoof's The Runners Four is.

Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-10-11 18:51:49

Chinatown is mysterious. I'm getting my copy of this tomorrow morning.

The artwork is pretty terrible but I'm sure the music will be great.

Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-10-11 18:18:57

I found this to be a bit better than the Pitchfork review, a little more approachable. But they did find a way to use "penultimate" giving them the writing prize.

I'll be looking to check this out, I liked Shine A Light fairly well.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 5:44 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Chinatown- Weren't you in New Brunswick? Still there?

Nope. I moved to Lennoxville, Quebec in the summer of '03. I visited New Brunswick a few months ago, though.

-Chinatown

Posted by shindo on 2005-10-11 17:30:07

Chinatown: Adam, which album do you prefer: Twin Cinema or Tournament?

Right now I'm leaning towards Twin Cinema as the better of the two.

-adam

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 5:09 PM (EDT)

Chinatown- Weren't you in New Brunswick? Still there?

Posted by Russe11 on 2005-10-11 17:09:09

chinatown!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 4:34 PM (EDT)
My Score:

University.

-Chinatown

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 4:04 PM (EDT)

chinatown, where ya been?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 2:32 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Album of the year, hands down. This one's way, way better than Shine A Light, which had quite a few boring tracks in the middle.

Adam, which album do you prefer: Twin Cinema or Tournament?

-Chinatown

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 2:17 PM (EDT)

"so adam, is this a good _____ start with? i have no other _______________, just some random _____

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

fill in the blanks"

fill in the blanks for what?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 2:15 PM (EDT)

so adam, is this a good _____ start with? i have no other _______________, just some random _____

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

fill in the blanks

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2005-10-11 13:57:08
My Score:

Good review, but really not too great a band.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-10-11 13:43:08

adam, you silly xanga bitch

"add cock"

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-11 13:30:58

I know that Adam is in love with this band, is this album actually that good?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 1:02 PM (EDT)

Superdude I dont know where you get your tricks, but dont go on hiatus again.

-sirens

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 12:37 PM (EDT)

Love in Fear is my favorite song off the album. The whole thing is great though.

Posted by superdude on 2005-10-11 12:33:37

This review was pretty good, but here’s what I would do to make it better:

1. Would I be likely to wear a zip-up hoodie while listening to this, or would I sport a sweater-vest?

2. Keep in mind that I don’t own any sweater-vests. I can get one though.

3. Don’t read #2.

4. Actually, if you read #3 you probably would have already read #2. Here’s my edit.

This review was pretty good, but here’s what I would do to make it better:

1. Would I be likely to wear a zip-up hoodie while listening to this, or would I sport a sweater-vest?

2. Don’t read #3.

3. Keep in mind that I don’t own any sweater-vests. I can get one though.

Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-10-11 05:22:07

guess which website i'm never visiting.

ummm, ummm, SYNTHASAURUS.com?????????!?!?!

am i right? i hope synthasaurus guy ball-taps himself really hard tomorrow.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 5:04 AM (EDT)

guess which website i'm never visiting.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 2:41 AM (EDT)

love this fucking band

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 2:22 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I just bought this on the weekend. It has been shortlisted to my top5 of 2005. I think I like it more than Shine A Light... I really do.

Posted by prankish on 2005-10-11 02:10:48

Constantines fucking rock it live. Came mighty close to stealing a show from the Weakerthans in 2003.

Posted by shindo on 2005-10-11 01:44:05
My Score:

Jones, I'd start with Shine A Light personally. This record's quite a bit more laid back, so that one has the dynamics to make a more interesting start.

-adam

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-10-11 01:19:26

so adam, is this a good album to start with? i have no other constantine releases, just some random mp3s

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by GreenVandal on 2005-10-11 01:06:22
My Score:

I need this. I need this so bad.

Posted by the_other_scott on 2005-10-11 00:37:14

can't wait to check this out

can't wait to see these canadian gentlemen with the hold steady

Posted by inagreendase on 2005-10-11 00:26:22

I just can't get into this. I tried so, so hard, and even with this definite Modest Mouse vibe floating about it, I just couldn't. And yet, I'd probably still recommend it to others.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 12:19 AM (EDT)

Awsome review. And I love the cover for some reason. And I also love polar bears, so that means I really should check this out.

-Will