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22 December 2023
The Weakerthans, according to their bio sheet, are "Sonically located in the finest tradition of Punk." Notice that's with a capital "P". After listening to their third album, Reconstruction Site, I find myself wondering how many real Punk bands play vibes and fuckin' glockenspiels.
I'm not as well versed in Punk as many, sure. Some Punk bands develop different sounds. The reggae of The Clash comes to my cholesterol-addled mind. But The Weakerthans, Punk? Did their PR person listen to the easy-going, twangy title track? Does he realize they often sound a little (just a little) like The Barenaked Ladies? (Maybe it's the Canadian connection... the good natured, fun feel, even when the lyrics are sometimes a little down.)-- And BNL are many things, Punk not being one of them.
Don't get me wrong. The Weakerthans are not bad. They're quite good, actually. But they're sure as hell not anywhere near Punk. Well, they're Canadian. Maybe Punk's different up there. I guess their weird-ass CD art, with some awkwardly drawn monsters walking around dead and dismembered human bodies all over the place, is kind of Punk, if not a bit inappropriate for the music.
The Weakerthans' Reconstruction Site isn't a crappy album; it's just not what I'd call Punk. Sum 41? Good Charlotte? More Punk than The Weakerthans. Shittier, but actually more Punk,.. if you can believe that. I wrote it and even I am having trouble believing it. But, what the hell? The Weakerthans are alright in my book. Like the album more with every listen. Check 'em out if you want some nice, quirky, easy-going, decidedly un-Punk rock ditties.
WEAKER THAN WHAT? FIND OUT HERE.
PURCHASE THIS OR SIMILAR ITEMS
I'm not as well versed in Punk as many, sure. Some Punk bands develop different sounds. The reggae of The Clash comes to my cholesterol-addled mind. But The Weakerthans, Punk? Did their PR person listen to the easy-going, twangy title track? Does he realize they often sound a little (just a little) like The Barenaked Ladies? (Maybe it's the Canadian connection... the good natured, fun feel, even when the lyrics are sometimes a little down.)-- And BNL are many things, Punk not being one of them.
Don't get me wrong. The Weakerthans are not bad. They're quite good, actually. But they're sure as hell not anywhere near Punk. Well, they're Canadian. Maybe Punk's different up there. I guess their weird-ass CD art, with some awkwardly drawn monsters walking around dead and dismembered human bodies all over the place, is kind of Punk, if not a bit inappropriate for the music.
The Weakerthans' Reconstruction Site isn't a crappy album; it's just not what I'd call Punk. Sum 41? Good Charlotte? More Punk than The Weakerthans. Shittier, but actually more Punk,.. if you can believe that. I wrote it and even I am having trouble believing it. But, what the hell? The Weakerthans are alright in my book. Like the album more with every listen. Check 'em out if you want some nice, quirky, easy-going, decidedly un-Punk rock ditties.
WEAKER THAN WHAT? FIND OUT HERE.
PURCHASE THIS OR SIMILAR ITEMS
artid
1585
Old Image
6_1_weakerthans.jpg
issue
vol 6 - issue 01 (sep 2003)
section
entertainmental