ARTIST: The Plastic Constellations
TITLE: Crusades
LABEL: Frenchkiss Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 240kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 34m total
RELEASE DATE: 2006-01-24
RIP DATE: 2005-12-21
Track List
----------
1. Phoenix and the Faultline 2:57
2. Iron City Jungles 3:50
3. Best Things 3:47
4. Quixote 3:15
5. Sancho Panza 3:32
6. Belly of the Beast 3:38
7. Men in Dark Times 3:47
8. Reunitiation 2:02
9. Ghost in the House 3:57
10. Bring What You Bring 3:52
Release Notes:
So begins Crusades, the third album from Minneapolis-based band The Plastic
Constellations (TPC). ItÆs a lyric that goes on to color and temper the rest of
the record, hinting at the triumphant spirit to follow. Whereas the band bounced
between Pavement-inspired jangle and big rock anthems in the past, Crusades
wastes no time establishing the latter over the former. Crusades is firmly a
Rock Record and it is firmly unrelenting. Listen to the lyrics and youÆll find
the band fighting, uniting, and conquering on each track. Couple that with
hyper-kinetic guitar work and a thunderous rhythm section, and youÆll find TPC
recontextualizing heavy music in the ôindie rockö realm, thrusting them above so
many less inspired bands.
TPC started playing together in 1995 as tow-headed and rambunctious 14-year-old
best friends. At 15, they were asked by Low to open for them at the legendary
First Avenue club; amazingly, this happened to be their first show. The four
boys officially began storming the Midwest club scene in 1999, and quickly
attracted a large following with their infectious live shows. As AtmosphereÆs
Slug once said in City Pages, ôThis city is not big enough to hold their
energy.ö
Now, as slightly more mature 23 year olds, TPC continue to wow audiences with
their rhythmic intensity, anthemic melodies, and playful sense of humor. Having
garnered favorable press around the country for 2004Æs Mazatlan (2024 Records),
the band is poised to bring their brand of party to the national stage in 2006
after signing to the influential and respected Frenchkiss Records in New York û
home to Les Savy Fav, The Hold Steady, and Thunderbirds are Now!
Lacking any sense of pretension whatsoever, the band draws from a diverse range
of influences. Ranging from the post-punk attack of Les Savy Fav to the dance-y
rhythm of At the Drive-In, TPC leaves live audiences sweaty and spent. TPC are
comprised of Aaron Mader and Jeff Allen on dueling guitars, Jordan Roske on
bass, and Matt Scharenbroich on drums. Consistent with the friendship-unity
theme of TPC, each member takes their turn in front of the microphone to espouse
passionate group declarations.
Clouds part, the sun and a fresh start / æcause the paths clear ahead / and
hopes not dead / fight till the end!
So closes ôMen in Dark Times,ö a song microcosmic and emblematic of the record
as a whole. The fight is not dead and indeed, TPC is leading the charge.