The Weakerthans: Reconstruction Time Again

01/12/09 2:51pm

by Jen Zoratti (CHARTattack)

It’s been four long years, but The Weakerthans have finally released a new record.

Rumours about an album from Winnipeg’s foremost indie rock band started swirling around the city when Stephen Carroll, John K. Samson, Greg Smith and Jason Tait entered the studio in March for what was supposed to be a quick in-and-out session. The quartet wanted to nail down half-a-dozen songs, ostensibly to be included on the next LP — and they ended up recording the entire thing.

Reunion Tour, released on Sept. 25, is the band’s fourth full-length record, and arguably their most anticipated release. Its predecessor, the critically heralded Reconstruction Site, is the band’s best-selling record to date and is revered for its eclectic sonic collage of folk, punk and rock, and for frontman Samson’s melodic punk rock poetry.

It’s evident that Sampson takes his time when crafting a song, which is why the four-year wait shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise.

“It wasn’t because of any real reason,” Samson says. “It generally takes us three years to make a record, and this time it took four years. Because of that, I think the recording process was really creative. We felt we had the space and time to fool around until we got something we liked.

“It puts the pressure on a little bit, to take that time, but we try not to think about it,” Samson says with a laugh. “We just made the best record we could. We’re really fond of it and we hope others will be too.”

Reunion Tour is the culmination of almost five years of writing and, while it’s somewhat of a quasi-concept record, the narrative is loose and open-ended. “Utilities” and “Night Windows” have been live show staples for a few years, but the bulk of the album is a series of surprises from Samson’s notebook. Like 2000’s Left And Leaving and Reconstruction Site, Reunion Tour continues to showcase the ex-Propagandhi bassist’s mighty lyrical prowess — though the soft-spoken singer seems quite private when it comes to the inspiration for his prose.

“I guess I have some ideas of what the themes on the record are,” Samson says, cryptically. “It’s a collection of points of view, of mostly men, some of whom I like and some of whom I don’t.

“There’s also the theme of reunions as well, some that have passed, and others that will be missed. That’s sort of the significance of the title. It’s also kind of funny.”

Dividing their time between Winnipeg’s Prairie Recording Company (owned by Weakerthans sound tech Cam Loeppky) and Junk Shop Studio in Toronto (run by sometime Weakerthans contributor Dave McKinnon), the band once again enlisted the always-effervescent Ian Blurton to handle production duties. Blurton, who helped create the textured sound on both Left And Leaving and Reconstruction Site, is partially to credit for getting the band to finish the new record in its entirety. Because the group didn’t head into the studio with a careful blueprint for the songs, the recording process was more collaborative and experimental than in the past — thanks to the healthy relationship the band have built with their producer.

“He was good as usual. We really trust him,” Samson says. “He came here [Winnipeg] in the winter, which is pretty brave of him. It was really nice for us to be able to make almost the whole thing in Winnipeg.”

The end result is a pretty, textured record that pushes the band out of their comfort zone — if only slightly. Songs range from subdued and quiet ballads to raging rockers, making this a distinct and definitive Weakerthans record with darkly pretty, politically-tinged short stories about Bigfoot and NHL goalies. Though Samson says the record changed dramatically from what he thought it would sound like, he’s pleased with how it turned out.

“It changed pretty radically. I can’t really describe it. It was just the process of collaboration, which is always exciting. It’s always different than when you hear it in your head because it’s the product of many people’s heads. And that’s a good thing. I don’t think I would necessarily want it to end up how I had it in my head.”

Though the record is more experimental in the sense of creative freedom, The Weakerthans are continuing to develop and expand a sound that’s uniquely their own. A departure this definitely isn’t, but, then again, it was never supposed to be.

“We didn’t have any conscious thought about it,” says Samson. “It’s pretty linked to the other records. It’s a very realistic record, I think. It’s the closest thing to what we sound like. It really sounds like us.”

bonus sidebar
I Hate Winnipeg!
Top 5 Winnipeg Shout-outs In Song

Winnipeg bands have always helpfully pointed out the potholes, wind-chill factors and questionable government candidates that make it, indeed, one great city. Here are a few examples of folks who’ve done so in song:

Randy Bachman — The icon teamed up with Neil Young to produce the overtly nostalgic love letter “Prairie Town,” which is essentially a long backhanded compliment about being prairie folk at heart but wanting to get the hell out of there.

Neil Young — Winnipeg’s favourite adopted son gives a rare name-check to the town he grew up in with the tune “Don’t Be Denied.” But let’s face it, Neil Young isn’t really from Winnipeg at all.

The Weakerthans — Not many people can say the Jets suck in song and live to tell about it, but “One Great City” was meant to be more funny than critical. After all, Samson can’t hate Winnipeg that much. He still lives there.

The Consumer Goods — These indie rockers have a penchant for writing witty political tunes. “And The Final Words Are Yours, Sam Katz” bravely decries the city’s current mayor on the band’s latest release. It’s hilarious.

The Venetian Snares — This obscure experimental act released a 2005 EP that contained such delightful gems as “Winnipeg Is Steven Stapleton’s Armpit” and “Winnipeg Is Fucking Over.” Oh yeah, the EP is called Winnipeg Is A Frozen Shithole.

This feature article is from the October 2007 issue of Chart Magazine. You can purchase the issue in the Chart Shop.