The age old dilemma, I’ve got bad news and I’ve got good news, which would you like to hear first? The bad news is that after a very successful ten year career it looks like Canadian indie rocker icons Constantines are on an indefinite hiatus. The good news, Steven Lambke, guitarist/vocalist from Constantines, has just released an great album under his Baby Eagle moniker. Now to call this album a solo album would be making a grave mistake. Lambke enlisted the help of Daniel Romano (Attack in Black), Shotgun Jimmie, David Trenaman, and Colleen Collins (Construction&Destruction) to create some noise. On first listen, it was hard to not picture a hot porch in somebody’s backyard with some friends jamming while drinking a few cold ones on a hot summer day. It’s hard to say if this imagery was from the sounds of the album or the fact I was walking home from work on a hot summers day. The reality is this album was recorded in a rural house at the end of winter by a bunch of talented musicians and friends.
The album has a very raw and unpolished rock sound. Not in a sloppy way, but in a way that it feels like you could have been there when it was recorded. Lambke’s voice may not be the most soothing thing you’ll here, but he does a great job of channeling that classic Canadian singer/songwriter rock sound. The album starts off with an upbeat collision of noise with “Day of Departing”, setting the tone for the rest of the way. Most of the songs are short snapshots clocking in at under three minutes. The middle section of the album loses me as the songs don’t have that much umph to them. But just when it seems like the album may be starting to drag on, drum sticks click together to kick start the song “Crooked Coin”, an energetic rocker that brings the listeners attention back in. Overall this is a solid album although I find myself skipping through to my favourites. It sounds like a group of friends coming together and having fun making an album, making in an enjoyable listen. Check out this album if you like feedback driven raw indie rock and/or enjoy Constantines. The album is available through Lambke and Romano’s co-owned label You’ve Changed Records, a small label focused on quality work and albums of a collaborative nature.
Baby Eagle – Day of Departing
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