Plastic Constellations, The - We Apppreciate You (Album)
Revolutionary Minneapolis avant-garde punk four piece, The Plastic Constellations are back. Following up their 2006 Crusades release, We Appreciate You is out now on Frenchkiss Records. It is the fanatical, kitsch, melodical punk which is everything that TPC are all about. Every track is mesmerizing with killer energy and anthemic choruses.
Opening the album are three exceptionally captivating tracks, all with thrashing rhythms with catchy melodies. Grinding down with Stay That Way, immediately this track captures what this whole album is. Unfortunately not edging more than that, however, the band is completely tight with crafting the sounds needed at most times effortlessly.
Pumping with young energy, Floated Down and Flew Around, is a number brilliantly executed with jolting beats with the band yelling the chorus with every bit of enthusiasm a child has over a new toy. The only disappointment is the unnecessary brass in the already uplifting fade out chorus; it’s a bit of overkill.
As their fifth long player out, Flames and Rain and We are Genius Millionaires extract some of the best of the band and it really shows the differences in styles dynamically in the band. The tables are completely turned to record tracks like We Are… and it shows the maturity in the band’s songwriting.
Wailing guitars from Aaron Mader and Jeff Allen and wails of “Woah!” from the band make them kick ass over your ‘in’ pop punkies My Chemical Romance etc. They are nothing quite as hardcore as TPC, even when they sing with soft emotion.
Pumping double kicks drive Heat Knocker right off with penetrating rhythm, making this number a down right punk number…rolling in at 2:30 minutes. Musically, the song doesn’t quite fit the mood of the lyrics as much as they may for Phantom Canyon though.
There are awesome constructed riffs and simple percussion on the second last track, Phantom Canyon. It’s fitted with vivid fantasy lyrics however the overdubbed track doesn’t quite carry through the quality of the rest of the tracks on the album as much as the album deserves. There is no doubt, on the upside, that this track has the best guitar riffs though.
Closing with So Many Friends was definitely an odd pick with an indie rock sound to it – it could almost fit on a Conor Oberst album. A disappointing track to close with, So Many is the let down on the album with flimsy deliverance on riffs and lesser vocals.
TPC have brought us another rhythmic joy for the year however this album doesn’t entirely live up to their Crusades release. It’s been one of the better art punk releases for this year, but it might be worthwhile sticking to their previous albums if you are waiting to be blown away (or wanting to be again).
