Constantines are marking the 10th anniversary of their most influential album on its 11th anniversary. As the Canadian indie-rock band was first to point out, that makes a certain sort of sense. The Guelph, Ontario-born group’s urgent sound — filtering jagged post-punk, fervent blue-collar rock, and even hints of dub and soul through a rough ‘n’ ready, basement-show mindset — still resonates in the work of more recent bands like the National, Japandroids, and Titus Andronicus. But this five-piece’s timing? Well, they called it quits after four albums in 2010.
Happily, Constantines have reunited for a tour, and today Sub Pop announced it will reissue their beloved 2003 sophomore album Shine a Light on vinyl. With a U.S. street date of June 10 (June 9 in Europe; June 10 in Canada via You’ve Changed Records), the pressing brings back an album that had been out of print on wax since 2006. The 12-track reissue will include slightly changed artwork, plus a seven-inch single containing, from the Nighttime CD single, Talking Heads cover “Thank You for Sending Me an Angel” and fellow B-side “Hotline Operator (2003),” as well as, from the Young Lions CD single, a CBC Radio 3 recording of Royal City cover “Raw Youth.”
The Shine a Light reissue will also be available as a limited “Loser Edition” on orange vinyl. Look for that at select independent record stores or via preorders from Sub Pop.
Separately, Constantines leader Bry Webb has unveiled a solo album, Free Will. That’s due out May 20 via Idée Fixe Records. He’ll be playing solo dates opening for Sub Pop’s own Chad VanGaalen.
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Listen to “Young Lions” below, click here for Constantines’ Sub Pop playlist, and scroll down for the track list and tour dates. This is your kingdom:
Constantines’ Shine a Light reissue track list:
1. “National Hum”
2. “Shine a Light”
3. “Nighttime/Anytime (It’s Alright)”
4. “Insectivora”
5. “Young Lions”
6. “Goodbye Baby & Amen”
7. “On To You”
8. “Poison”
9. “Scoundrel Babes”
10. “Tiger & Crane”
11. “Tank Commander (Hung Up in a Warehouse Town)”
12. “Sub-Domestic”
Bonus 7″
A1) “Thank You for Sending Me an Angel” (Talking Heads cover / Nighttime Single)
A2) “Raw Youth” (CBC Radio 3 recording of a Royal City cover / Young Lions Single)
B1) “Hotline Operator (2003)” (Nightime Single)
Constantines
June 8 – Toronto, ON – Field Trip Festival / Fort York & Garrison Common
Augist 3 – Sackville, NB – SappyFest
August 22 – Peterborough, ON – Peterborough Folk Festival
August 23 – Ottawa, ON – Arboretum Festival
Bry Webb Solo Dates
May 14 – Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bear’s Place*
May 15 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Bell House*
May 16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy*
May 17 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel*
May 18 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox*
May 19 – Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub*
May 20 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement*
May 21 – Indianapolis, IN @ Do317 Lounge*
May 22 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle*
* w/ Chad VanGaalen