Plastic Constellations - Crusades
by Benjamin Howarth
published: 16 / 5 / 2006

Label:
Select Label
Format: CD
intro
Unoriginal-sounding second album from Fugazi-imitators, the Plastic Constellations
The Plastic Constellations are, you might say, the American Futureheads. Jerky, hyperactive, stop start songs with abundant hooks and harmony vocals. ‘Crusades’ is their second album, the first on French Kiss records, after a debut that got a lot of praise in America. Every song has energy and melody, but it is hard to think of anything that is on this record that Fugazi didn’t do better. They even have Fugazi’s habit of having one vocalist singing, another screaming, and letting the rhythm section dictate the songs while the guitars add textures. I love Fugazi, but I can’t see myself listening to 'Crusades' again. There are so many bands that do this kind of thing, but none have the special qualities of Fugazi. This album just sounds so generic, without offering anything startling of its own, that it isn’t worth your time. They can play, though, so maybe with some actual songs, they might make a decent record. This isn’t it.
Track Listing:-
1 Phoenix And The Faultline2 Iron City Jungles
3 Best Things
4 Quixote
5 Sancho Panza
6 Belly Of The Beast
7 Men In Dark Times
8 Reunitiation
9 Ghost In The House
10 Bring What You Bring
most viewed articles
current edition
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - InterviewJack Frost - As Seen on TV
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
John McKay - Interview
Editorial - July 2025
Robert Forster - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Kruder and Dofmeister - Paral-lel 62, Barcelona, 27/4/2025
Skunk Anansie - Old Market, Brighton, 16/5/2025
Yardbirds - Des Plaines Theater, Des Plaines, 18/4/2025
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboVultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
HAIM - I Quit
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a Circle
Pulp - More
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos
Little Simz - Lotus
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart