While reading some background information on Constantines' newest album, Tournament of Hearts, I discovered the album was named after the Canadian female curling competition. An album named after Canada's second most popular sport to hockey made me interested in checking out Constantines' third full-length release. Unexpectedly, I discovered songs that were more introspective than quirky. It appears the title is not just the band's inside joke but part of the pride they have in their country.
References to Canada appear sporadically, but more than the country itself, it is the people of Constantines' native land who are spotlighted. The Canadian quintet has shifted gears from the more punk-infused soul of their biggest effort, Shine a Light, to a more refined album that focuses on working class Canadian life.
"Soon Enough" is more upbeat than other tracks, but the convoluted lyrics remain true to the rest of the album. The song begins, "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."
"Working Full-Time" epitomizes the message of the album. With lyrics such as, "Vigilant people in the cult of enterprise, lean into the day with all your heart and mind/We were not made to fear the morning," Constantines elaborates how so many of us feel when the alarm clock goes off in the morning.
Other songs like "Hotline Operator" and "Good Nurse" sing the praises of blue-collar laborers. "Thieves" is the song I had the most trouble with, by far. The song is not preformed by Bryan Webb, the lead vocalist, but by band member Steve Lambke. The lyrics, "Thieves in the city/ Bees in the flowerbeds/ Kissing downtown and the sun come up," show how unrelatable the song can be sometimes -- not to mention the fact that Lambke has a very unique and somewhat creepy vocal style. While differentiation between songs is good, Constantines should keep Webb at the forefront.
Tournament of Hearts' last song, "Windy Road," is the album's slow jam, if you will. It is soft and understated, without the heavy instrumentals of other tracks. Lyrics in "Windy Road" such as, "Best get new dreams, these old ones won't last/This is not your home/Leave this place alone," support the album's theme of the hardships of working-class life. The lyrics can be somewhat difficult to interpret at first, but a second listen provides more clarity.
The band is known for their hardworking nature, which allows them to identify with the troubles of the working class. However, laborers are not their typical audience. Constantines allow those of us who have never experienced anything like working in a factory to relate more to the audience they hope to gain with Tournament of Hearts.
The second theme of the album urges us to leave our stress and our frustrations behind. Constantines hope to build a bridge between their audience members by finding the common ground between our individual responsibilities.
Constantines have not only made an interesting new album but have likely inspired a few more people (including myself) to hit the snooze button a few more times before heading off to work (or class). So sleep in kids, relax and enjoy Tournament of Hearts.
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