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Rating: There are albums that leave you speechless right from the first listen because they're so beautiful; others, on the other hand, from the first listen only leave an annoying sense of incompleteness and disorder. Then there are others that mix up your ideas, and track after track they confuse your mind: "Yes, so beautiful! It's been years since I've heard a guitar so captivating. Mmmmh, no, I must have been mistaken, and then this piece is a blatant plagiarism... mmmh no no... not much... But, maybe, on second thought..." Well, the latest album by the Canadians Costantines falls into the last category. The middle one. The limbo of indecision.
Paradise or hell?
Track number four: "Lizaveta". Lots of light. Paradise.
A concentric and psychedelic vortex of lysergic guitars, reverbs, echoes, and all the sixties (it feels like 1967 in particular...) oozing from the speakers. Jimi Hendrix at some points, your American dream of youth inside a boring sunny Sunday in the province and Jesus Christ at others. A fairy tale.
Track number seven: "Good Nurse". Too much heat. Hell.
It sounds like a bad song by The Police and even the vocal timbre reminds of Sting. "Mmmm more than anything, they sound like Oneida trying to cover The Fire Theft." Pretty bland.
The discussion could last an eternity and tomorrow we would still be here doing "Paradise. Hell." so it's better to stop here, as you're smart guys and you well understand how it works for this musical production. The Costantines are a good band. They play really well and furthermore, there's a trace in their music of a maniacal listening in their tender age to some very valid progressive records by Genesis like "Selling England By The Pound" and "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" which often lead their music to resemble a sort of sonic "sermon" writhing like a lengthy snake under the scorching sun. Continuous references, sonic evolutions, prog scales, and even some trumpet ("Thieves") to give a touch of blues to a concentrate of beautiful emotions and timid second thoughts. Perhaps the only way to have definitive certainty on the value of "Tournament Of Hearts" would be to go to one of their concerts and judge in person if it's "worth it or not" since I am in limbo as much as the album.
And here's the surprise: "Oh... what a coincidence... soon the guys will be in Italy for some shows
Would you look at that...!!!"
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Draw Us Lines (04:16)
Starhawk in a street ritual, pleas from Herald Square to the heavens, earth and seas
Let the land move its people, and draw us lines from our fiery designs
Unknown unknowns, let all our gardens grow, and overtake our history
Seeking strength in mystery
Let us feel the air inside the clothes that we wear
Try to find ghosts behind the buildings in our lives
Draw us lines
Bad weather
Anxiety and fear
Don't give in
Call on her
And live in fascination... Fascination forever
02 Hotline Operator (03:39)
I believe this life is blessed,
when against your hand,
my pulse can rise and rest.
Sing dissemblers.
Sing Lazarus.
Stand on ceremony.
For us with lust it's only motivation.
Hotline operator.
Rolling Blackouts, put out the light.
Let the sun go down.
Bring on the night.
We'll put our blankets on the floor, until the power gets restored.
You're a way.
An unchainer.
You're a hotline operator.
Do me a favor.
04 Lizaveta (03:34)
Lizaveta, we stood together in the pissing rain. Your skin was showing through your shirt. You said, "Lover, let's run for cover." I said, "Lover, wait. Stay here and I'll give up all I'm worth." It's good... we desire disorder. With this design, we're all born our own destroyer. In that evil hour, without defense, be sensetive. You were born to live. Attraction lures the sot to drink, to all his troubles drown. But when his legs give way, he falls, and attraction keeps him down. In that evil hour, without defense, be sensetive. We were born to live
05 Soon Enough (04:00)
Years from now,
they will make water
from the reservoirs of our idiot tempers
Soon enough, work and love
will make a man out of you
Through and through
Your gentleman father
would pray for a daughter,
as he walked from room to room saying
"Women are winning the tournament of hearts"
"Somebody's got to lose..."
Soon enough, work and love
will make a man out of you
Through and through
Soon enough
10 Windy Road (02:29)
It's true that the sky was filled with dust and silver
Waves of light across a crooked highway
The ocean in a silver flask
Best get new dreams, these old dreams won't last
This is not your home
Leave this place alone
Windy Road
You said I had the look of a prairie crow, that year when all your friends were married
A gold ring on a leather boot, when these mean and lonely days are through
This is not your home
Leave this place alone
Windy Road
In the crosswinds west of town, hope it don't blow me down
Windy Road
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