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

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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
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