Monday, August 15, 2011

Artist: Constantines, Album: Tournament Of Hearts, Song: Working Full Time

The Constantines are a rock band originally from Guelph, Ontario.  They formed in 1999 and released their self-titled debut that same year.  It garnered the band their first of two Juno nominations for Best Alternative Album.  However, their debut fell short of the award and lost out to Rufus Wainwright's Poses.  Their next release in 2003, would benefit from U.S. distribution via the Sub Pop label in Seattle, and would also be nominated for Best Alternative Album at the Junos.  Once again though, the band lost that year to Buck 65.  Tournament Of Hearts was their third release in 2005.  Working Full Time is a standout track from that release.  I'm not a singer but I have to think that the manner in which lead vocalist, Bryan Webb, sings cannot be good for the long term health of his voice.  He has a killer rock and roll howl.  It is certainly something to behold.  The band celebrated their 10 year anniversary in 2009 and accompanied the occasion with a tour of Southwestern Ontario.  They are signed to the Arts & Crafts label and have 4 albums to date.  They've also collaborated recently with label mate, Feist, on a very dark rendition of the Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton classic, Islands In The Stream.  You can follow them at http://www.arts-crafts.ca/constantines/.  You can check out the very cool video for the song, Working Full Time, on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30yEWwQEYIk&ob=av2e).  You can purchase the album, Tournament Of Hearts, from Itunes.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!