When they released their 1998 self-titled 7", The Plastic Constellations embarked on a angular, sometimes inaccessible, but autonomously clever brand of post-punk. Ten years later, four albums, and an ocean of tours under their belt, The Plastic Constellations explore a newer wall-of-sound. One that is more critical and chaotic and undeniably more anthemic, while remaining a collective that proves you can have fun doing it.
We Appreciate You flays listeners with an explosion of stomping crashes and rhythms, jagged guitars and the roaring, pleading intensity of every member of this Minneapolis Minnesota quartet. Throughout its more polished and mature atmosphere, We Appreciate You’s eleven tracks oscillates between anthemic-fueled sing-alongs in the tone of The Beginning Stages Of The Polyphonic Spree and the disparate textures of anything off of Repeater. “Stay That Way”, the opening track from their rumored final album (the band announced an indefinite hiatus), propels the intensity and sets the pace for the record; a starburst of propulsive backbeats, oversized guitars, sparse but perfectly placed brass sections, and the roaring, fervent vocals of Aaron Mader and company. The track “Floated Down and Flew Around”, an anthemic-adrenaline fueled sing-along, complete with undercutting “Woo’”s, make the Constellations sound most alive.
“Black Market Pandas”, the records most brutal track, proclaims in a collective chant: “we are more alike then you think”, defining the overarching message on We Appreciate You. And while there is a high degree of testosterone fueled party rock, they declare their ultimate goals of performing and making music together, singing in a unified brutality coupled with an extreme sense of urgency. Undoubtedly, The Plastic Constellations brand of contagious post-punk melodies will make you a believer.
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