The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site / 13 Tracks / 2003 Epitaph Records / http://www.theweakerthans.org / http://www.epitaph.com / Reviewed 12 November 2003

While it is hard to call The Weakerthans punk in the terms of the music that they play, they are most definitely punk in the attitude that they hold and the willingness for experimentation on this disc. “The Reasons” begin the main part of the disc, hearkening back to the mid-1990s where a heavy Weezer-type influence is mixed with an ironic tone not unlike Matthew Sweet. Moving into the title track, The Weakerthans come out with a decidedly low-energy anthem, with a Barenaked Ladies-style tempo gradually moving into a much warmer sound in the second half of the song. Stephen’s guitars during this track, while still relatively laconic, really create much more in the few notes played than many an individual could play in twice or three times the amount.

A minor problem that arises with the disc comes in the quicker, more bouncy tempo tracks, as The Weakerthans try to fit too long of statements into punchy guitar lines. These attempts make decent songs, but one has to wonder if more choppy statements, such as in the chorus of “Plea From A Cat Named Virtute”, might work a little better if used more liberally. In continuing with the discussion of “Plea”, The Weakerthans spin more and more out of control during the last minute of the track, moving pretty smoothly to the pop-punk influenced emotive blast of “Our Retired Explorer”. “Hospital Verspers” is by far the most minimal of the tracks, working with a reversed track and vocals that are pretty much spoken throughout.

Moving back into the insane guitar licks of the late 1980’s, reminiscing to C.C. Deville riffs, The Weakerthans make a truly memorable track in “Uncorrected Proofs”. While “A New Name For Everything” is a somewhat trite alt-country track that uses aural googahs and other noises to draw attention, the track still nevertheless has different time signatures that require individuals to listen to it all that much more. I had always heard of The Weakerthans, but was never lucky enough to pick up one of their discs. While the disc itself is a good edge-reducer, it can be pretty easy to just go and forget that there are some pretty amazing songs, such as “One Great City!”. This disc is just another piece of evidence that shows Epitaph as a label that tries all sorts of different genres. Check it out.

Rating : 6.1/10

Top Tracks : One Great City, The Reasons