September 4, 2003 MUSIC page

From Autumn Weird? Or just Canadian? to Ashes The Fiction We Live' Vagrant Records Release date Sept. 9

ifif (out of four stars) I scream, you scream, we all scream for 'The Fiction We Live' Long Island: home of the New York Mets, vacation By Joe Freisinger spot for rich people and birthplace of Jim Brown. regresses a few years to make It's also home to the music like Def Leppard. emo/hardcore/pop/punk band, As silly as vocalists Perri and From Autumn to Ashes. Mark sound sometimes, their From Autumn to Ashes isn't voices fall perfectly into the styles your average emo/hardcore/ of hardcore and emo, respective- pop/punk band, however. They ly. Much more competent as a have two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer than as a vocalist. drummer and a growler, but the Francis Mark lays down some drummer also sings. solid rock grooves. While vocalist Benjamin Perri Mike Pilato is a strong bass player, and guitarists Scott Gross Some bands show off their Photo provided by Epitaph Records makes vomiting/burping/coughing and Brian Deneeve are well mind-boggling talents and tech- The Weakerthans noises - I assume with his mouth - drummer Francis Mark sings in versed in the suspensions, power niques. Others like to flaunt good 'Reconstruction Site' (Left to right) Jason Tait, John his whiny emo chords and scales looks and fashion sense.There are Sutton, John Samson and Epitaph Records voice. of metal. even some who lack musical tal- Stephen Carroll of The Released Aug. 26 Because of As a musical ent and sex appeal, but make up Weakerthans will be in these dynamic As a musical unit, excluding for it with beautiful words to con- •&■& (out of four stars) Nashville Oct. 18. singing, From vey their messages. changes in musi- unit, excluding Autumn to Ashes The Weakerthans' biggest cal character, has talent. strength, however, is that they're By Joe Freisinger sent a Get Well card." From Autumn to singing, From The one song weird. That's not to say that they The band, as well as Sampson, Ashes has never Autumn to that neither Perri can't play; the Weakerthans know listen to this album for the first is firm in its commitment to defy quite felt like nor Mark sing on, how to put a song together. But time might say, "Hey, where did normalcy. For, in addition to the they fit in with Ashes has talent "Autumns there are many bands with far these crazy guys come from? required vocals, guitar, bass and other bands that Monologue," is the greater musicians. The Crazyland?" I would reply,"Sort of drums.The Weakerthans incorpo- do exclusively best song, musically. Weakerthans won't be winning - they come from Winnipeg, rate keyboards, lap steel, pedal emo, hardcore, pop or punk FATA brought in a female voice any beauty pageants or poetry Canada." steel, vibes and a glockenspiel. music. for that one, and her voice with contests any time soon, either. John K. Sampson's lyrics match I give the Weakerthans' This has led guitarist Scott their instruments could take What makes them shine above the peculiar nature of the song Reconstruction Site two stars Gross to make such remarks as, FATA far in the music world. the rest (or at least away from the titles in "The Reasons" with because they certainly are unique, "We're like a band going through FATA's The Fiction we Live is rest) is their strangeness. And, romantic poetry: "I know you but the album lacks a little sub- an identity crisis." pretty good instrumentally. but being unique in any way is impor- might roll your eyes at this/ but stance. How true that is. the lyrics are hard to understand. tant in today's sound-a-like music I'm so glad that you exist." If you're already a On the first track, "The After The singing, with the exception of industry. I'm sure he swept his girl off Weakerthans' fan, and are think- Dinner Payback," of The Fiction we "Autumns Monologue," isn't won- Reconstruction Site, the her feet with that one. ing, "I can't believe this writer did- Live, From Autumn to Ashes kind derful, so I give it 2 1/2 stars. Weakerthans' third studio album, Sampson continues the insanity n't get how political the lyrics of sounds like Slayer, whereas the If you're a big fan of FATA, and contains bizarre names for songs, in "Reconstruction Site," singing are," then I apologize. Good for second track, "Lilacs and Lolita." I mean big, then get tickets to the such as "Plea from a cat named (actually, talking): '"Go tell the you that you can understand John sounds more like Sunny Day Real St. Louis concert on Sept. 21. St. Virtute" and "Our retired explor- nurse to turn the TV back on and K. Sampson's lyrics. Estate. Louis is the closest they come to er (dines with Michel Foucault in throw away my misery/ It never The Weakerthans are coming During the third song. "No Murfreesboro this season. * Paris, 1961)." Those of you who meant that much to me/ It never to The End in Nashville Oct. 18. * Trivia," From Autumn to Ashes