What do those of you who were up-ended head-over-heels by "Shine A Light" think of this new ish? I gave it a once-through this morning and was impressed only by two songs: the first and the "Soon Enough". "Shine A Light" was by no means an automatic winner for me. I'm wondering if I'm just not getting this. Is that so?

I loved Shine A Light, and I'm very meh on this one. I like 3 songs and the rest is forgetable to me.

I've always been kinda meh with them

I didn't listen to Shine a Light a lot, but my first impression was about like yours. But the rest of the songs are all very good, and a couple more listens (essentially to hear the songs you mentioned, but left on out of laziness) let the album settle in, and now I really like it as a whole.

I had the same initial reaction ish, Shine a Light might be my favorite disc post 2000, and I wanted to be blown away by this disc, and wasn't. That doesn't mean I don't think it's a really good album, cause it is...prolly top 10 or 15 material for me.

Agreed....meh.

Almost feh.

I really dig "You Are a Conductor," and have come around on the album more recently. I will still give it listens every once in a while.

"shine a light" was my favorite album of 2003 and is near-perfect in my eyes, which makes a follow-up pretty tough, needless to say, but even still, the new one just doesn't have the sense of urgency (as evident in the last minute of that album's title track, one of my favorite song pieces EVER) that i liked so much about its predecessor.

my favorite song from the new one.

i was initially disappointed as well, but have really come around on this one. i really dig it now.

i really don't care for any of their recorded stuff....

however live - they are AWESOME

It's an amazing album. Tight, minimalist, soulful...the kind of album Spoon used to put out. Top Five of the year easily.

Ever since I first saw the Constantines described as "Fugazi mixed with Springsteen and the Clash" I've WANTED to like them, but all their recorded work doesn't remind me of those bands as much as a new generation's Tragically Hip (ie: the songs pound instead of swing, the melodies lack hooks, and the lyrics are abstract and vague). I don't actively dislike the Hip or the Cons, but there's just not much going on in either that holds my attention.

... or do you mean 'lacking'?

I am of the same mind as Radcliffe. I don't buy the supposed blue-collarness of them so much, the only parallel I could potentially detect with them and Springsteen.

I really love this band. "Soon Enough" and "You are a Conductor" are great songs.