Constantines — Kensington Heights

There comes a point in the career of most Canadian indie bands when they figure out their following probably won't get much bigger and they decide what they really want to be. The Constantines have decided they want to be the band they've toured much of North America with: The Weakerthans.

So, on Kensington Heights, the Cons don't sound much different than on Tournament Of Hearts (though they're miles away from their self-titled debut). But they work passionately within the Constantines "model" and evolve just enough to avoid repeating themselves (unlike their pals from Winnipeg).

The fourth Cons LP leans less on outright fist-pumpers, though the ones that are there are powerhouses. "Hard Feelings" and "Credit River" have the band doing what they do best: rocking out and taking names. The thematically simplistic "Life Or Death" has one of the most complex and heartbreaking melodies ever heard on a Cons album, while Bry Webb's voice inexplicably gets stronger and elevates ballads such as "Our Age" and "Time Can Be Overcome."

The Cons have figured out how to play the game. That they keep changing the rules makes Kensington Heights a rewarding listen.

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