Fugazi + Bruce Springsteen =

[Futureman]

The Constantines. Or so I've read.

Anyone heard of this band? If so, what say ye?

And if there are any Califone fans out there (or people who are not especially Califone fans), please recommend some stuff for me. I saw them live once, but the sound wasn't great and I really didn't a sense of their music.

[tinobeat]

everything I've heard from the constantines has been uninteresting. your description isn't far off, but they're not as interesting as that makes it sound...

I saw Califone open for Modest Mouse once and enjoyed them, and never thought about them again..

except they always have wicked nice packaging on their CDs.

[vesper]

I agree...the Constantines don't strike me as being any better or any worse than any other post-punk band out there (re: unremarkable).

Califone did an interesting cover of "South of Heaven" with Modest Mouse. Other than that, I haven't heard too much, but fans seem to love their latest - Quicksand/Rattlesnakes - the most. Of what I understand, it is country-tinged with clangy percussion (a la Raindogs???). "Junkyard Americana" seems to be the critics fave tag.

-edit-

Heard more by The Constantines and decided that they "don't strike me as being any better" but certainly much worse than other post-punk bands out there (re: stay away).

[KoolWhpp]

i'm diggin' the rock and roll mathematics.

how about:

fugazi - bruce springsteen = melvins

[Paul]

The Constantines are painfully boring. They would ideally have been on Touch & Go's mid-90s roster, but I think even then the label would have turned them down for sucking. Cut to 2003, Sub Pop says, "Sure, we'll take you guys." Proof that Sub Pop has been several years behind culture ever since Nirvana left for Geffen.

[saved]

I actually think that Sub Pop's output over the last few years has been very solid. Shins, Iron and Wine, Pleasure Forever have all released great albums through Sub Pop over the last few years. As for the Constantines, I've only heard one track from the new album, and I kinda liked it. Oh, well.

[Paul]

I'm not saying Sub Pop doesn't have its fair share of good releases. I'm just saying that they no longer define the trends as they once did. Now, they're playing catch-up.

[redheaven]

I, for one, think the Constantines kick ass...they take time to grow on you, though...it's all in the lyrics, though, which can be hard to make out at first...

[frank]

everyone in Toronto is all up ons about the Constantines. They don't do much for me, personally.

[bitterfruit]

Everyone in Toronto also was all up ons the Bare Naked Ladies at one point.

[Salman]

Originally posted by Paul
I'm just saying that they no longer define the trends as they once did. Now, they're playing catch-up.

That's not entirely true. They did release albums by Glucifer and The Hellacopters well before The Hives, Sahara Hotnights, Raveonettes, The Sound, The (International) Noise Conspiracy and other Scandinavian bands broke into the North American market.

[loopy]

Originally posted by Paul
The Constantines are painfully boring. They would ideally have been on Touch & Go's mid-90s roster, but I think even then the label would have turned them down for sucking. Cut to 2003, Sub Pop says, "Sure, we'll take you guys." Proof that Sub Pop has been several years behind culture ever since Nirvana left for Geffen.

Touch & Go almost signed the Constantines just after their first album, but apparently their label Three Gut couldn't work out a deal with the label so Touch & Go dropped the idea.

Sub Pop found out about the Cons through Sonic Unyon, who distributed the first Constantatines album. This was during the time Touch & Go were interested in them. One of the A&R people visited Sonic Unyon during a Canadian music fest (Canadian Music Week) and checked the Cons out when they played at SXSW.