The Susan Constant

Hey all, Seeds is back! It’s been a while since our last post, so instead of the regular band/album/show review, we decided to take a look back at all the bands we’ve covered this summer and pick out our favorites for you. Our top ten Best of Seeds is listed bellow with our favorite tracks, so check ‘em out and have listen to our favorite jams of the summer.

7. The Susan Constant- These Boston boys share a soft spot in our hearts. They have a great sound that isn’t like much else out there in the indie rock genre and their album “Rayonnement” is damn near perfect. Their sound ranges from fun and upbeat to tear-jerking and slow, but one thing is for sure, you won’t regret listening to The Susan Constant. Featured Track: Made of Paper - Hypetree

oday is a good day. Everything is going your way and you feel great. What should you listen to on such a wonderful day? Might I suggest The Susan Constant? I think I might. This band makes great feel good music that will put a spring in your step. What better way to spend your already great day with than with a great band?

Coming from Boston, Massachusetts, The Susan Constant brings catchy hooks and pleasant melodies, with shades of Barenaked Ladies, to the table. It’s hard not to smile when you listen to them and you’re sure to have a good time once you put their debut album “Rayonnement” on. The Susan Constant is your soundtrack for that perfect day.

The Susan Constant released their debut LP “Rayonnement” in March of last year and are currently working on a brand new EP set to drop sometime this summer. Here’s their single from that album called “Came/Went”. Listen up and smile! - Hypetree

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (27-17)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Nava LF
Middlebrooks 3B
Drew SS
Saltalamacchia C
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (6-0, 2.72).

WHITE SOX (19-23)
De Aza CF
Ramirez SS
Rios RF
Konerko 1B
Dunn DH
Viciedo LF
Keppinger 3B
Flowers C
Greene 2B
Pitching: RHP Dylan Axelrod (1-3, 4.27).

Game time: 8:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Axelrod: Ciriaco 3-3, Ellsbury 0-3, Middlebrooks 0-3, Ortiz 1-3, Salty 0-3, Napoli 0-1, Pedroia 1-1.

White Sox vs. Lester: Rios 9-38, Konerko 10-23, Ramirez 5-22, Wells 0-10, Dunn 1-6, De Aza 2-7, Viciedo 3-8, Flowers 1-3, Keppinger 1-2.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are averaging 5.47 runs in 21 road games.

Notes: The Red Sox have won five straight and are 5-1 on a road trip that has three games left. ... The Red Sox were 6-2 against the White Sox last season and are 5-2 at U.S. Cellular Field the last two seasons. ... Lester is 5-5, 5.20 in nine career starts against the White Sox. That's his highest ERA against an American League team. ... Axelrod made one start and one relief appearance against the Sox last season. He allowed two runs over nine innings. ... Pedroia has hit in 11 straight at 21 of 45 (.467) with six extra-base hits and eight RBIs. He has had multiple hits in eight of those games. ... Ellsbury has gone 158 at-bats since his last home run. ... Ortiz has hit in seven straight at 12 of 28 with 12 RBIs. ... Middlebrooks is 11 of his last 40 (.275) with nine extra-base hits. ... Lester and Buchholz are 12-0, 2.21. The Sox are 15-3 in their starts. ... The Sox have a 2.83 ERA on the road trip. Their relievers have allowed one run over 21 innings in six games.

Song of the Day: "Midwestern You" by The Susan Constant. - Extra Bases- Boston.com's Red Sox Blog

The Susan Constant “Shapes” EP
Boston’s The Susan Constant continue to write impressive indie pop, and the new EP Shapes goes the extra mile, drawing from the live shows they are known for – it building excitement with epics like “Draw Us All” or short rocking blasts like “Locked Up.” The sounds are textbook alt. guitar led goodness similar to REM. It ends with “Midwestern You,” a U2 styled arena ballad that builds to a vocal crescendo. 7/10 - Power Popaholic

The Susan Constant “Rayonnement”
Boston based Susan Constant is readying a new EP and they’ve released the free single “Locked Up” in advance. The debut from last year is a free download too and a good intro to this indie band with it’s poppy upbeat songs about the dark side of love. Enjoy the sharp lyrics and serious hooks – the band is Paul Sennott (guitar, vocals), Brian Kingsbury (guitar), Jim Bernat (keys,vocals), Mark Veligor (bass, vocals) and Jason Rossman (drums).
7/10 - Power Popaholic

In a week, in the Middle East’s downstairs room, the Field Effect, the Susan Constant, the Deep North and Velah will create one of Boston’s best bills. Four emerging bands full of buzz, fizz, snap, crackle and pop, they represent artists jumping from the Rock ’N’ Roll Rumble to the Boston Music Awards. (BMA nominators, you’ve been notified.)

But that’s my opinion... - Boston Herald

The Susan Constant celebrated the release of their Shapes EP with a sold out show at The Middle East Upstairs. The enthusiasm the band has for playing live is obvious. They fed off the reaction from the fervent crowd, becoming increasingly more animated as the set went on. The Susan Constant are leaving their mark on this town. It’s fun to watch. - Daykamp Music

The Susan Constant were one of my favorite surprises of the 2012 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. I knew nothing of the band going into the night, but their passionate set won me over instantly. Their new EP, Shapes, is equally fan-inducing. Somehow, the band has managed to capture the spark of their live performance on these six well-crafted indie rock gems. These are the kinds of songs that get packed clubs hopping or swaying in unison.* “Locked Up” and “One Good Reason” have hit single written all over them.** The rest of the release is just as solid. Songs like “Tennessee,” “Like A Ghost” and “Draw Us All” show off how a band can vary their songwriting while cultivating a well-defined sound. It all leads up to “Midwestern You,” a song that opens with a U2-esque intro before riding out on a wave of synth pads and almost horn-like guitar melodies. That’s a pretty nice way to close out Shapes. - Daykamp Music

POPULAR MUSIC - Boston's THE SUSAN CONSTANT are a band evolving before our eyes. Striving to advance, pushing their sound and willing to make a mark on the New England music landscape one scalding show at a time.. (And here's something to discuss: how an indie pop band can sometimes throw cymbal-smashing, epic nights of rock-ness.?!! There's always a "risk" of that with The Susan Constant.) With the new record, SHAPES, out today - the band continue to ride the line between post-punk pop and modern pop music. It's an area and a thing they do better than anybody right now in this city.

The new EP Shapes is a true DIY effort, self-produced over the course of 2012 resulting in six songs that show a step forward for the band, released on the band's own microlabel Tour de Stade Records. Paul Sennott, singer and songwriter, is a standout.

What does this mean for the future? In the immediate, go pick up their album (name your own price) and if you're reading this local, you can catch the band's set this Saturday night at the Middle East in Cambridge. It's a great way to hear SHAPES performed live and see what I mean about the live transformation that takes place. In the long term, this is a band to keep your eyes on. You know we will! - Ryan's Smashing Life

HOT INDIE POP - I want you to meet THE SUSAN CONSTANT! They're a band making super-catchy music. I see them with the chance to make the big transition this year... A chance to make it to the next level. They've already won a large and ever-growing following, largely due to great interaction with crowds and pushing the mark creatively.

With the material on new record, SHAPES, The Susan Constant continue to ride the line between pop and modern indie rock - it's a mix of live songs that play out best in the live setting. The band starts out a song sugary and light - it's a brand of glowing pop that audiences love. Then somewhere in the middle, this little band tears the top off the thing - resulting in huge rock jams! (Only to return once again to it's soft candy shell.) An audience enthralled, the live setting is where this band shines.

The Susan Constant are Paul Sennott (Vocals & Guitars), Brian Kingsbury (Guitars), Emily MacPherson (Bass & Vocals), Jason Rossman (Drums) and Jim Bernat (Keyboards & Vocals). They hail from Boston, MA. This is their first ever invite to play The Outlaw Roadshow. - Ryan's Smashing Life

Ryan's Smashing Life is honored to share the new music video for one of our favorite songs right now! Midwestern You from THE SUSAN CONSTANT is a personal anthem of sorts, the kind of song that transcends the boundaries between strangers and helps us make sense of the world today. The rise and fall - both lyrically and musically - perfectly match the slow marching of feet, as the listener (and the band) are driven forward. The song can be left somewhat open to interpretation but the video, by Director Kevin James, tells the story well. The protagonist trudges forward after a litany of mishaps and hardships befall him. Singer Paul Sennott silently struggles until he finds his place with friends - and his band. Music is his salvation.
The video is another exclamation point in an already exciting year for The Susan Constant, which includes being part of The Boston Phoenix Class of 2013 "Best New Bands in Boston", opening The Outlaw Roadshow at SXSW in March (where they received a three minute standing ovation), and playing dozens of shows throughout the region, the most recent of which marked the band's first performance Downstairs at the legendary Middle East Nightclub. And the year ahead looks even more promising. - Ryan's Smashing Life

Befitting a bill of this varied taste, The Susan Constant injected some serious power-pop bounce into the room. Paul Sennott’s distinctive voice cut through the underground venue with “Locked Up,” the first track off their latest EP. The overall atmosphere of their live show made it really tough for me to quickly type out notes on my phone, as I was bouncing off the walls as they careened through an incredibly upbeat, sing-along-heavy set. “Like a Ghost” and “It Comes Apart” reminded everyone that rock can wear a lot of different hats, whether it’s loud and explosive or softer and delicate. With their slower songs, I found myself wishing I had a lighter on me, as I swayed along with the rest of the crowd. A highlight of the set was easily “Tennessee,” a horn-filled romp that had me doing an odd version of bounce dancing (never play music around me…I will make myself look like an ass). Thankfully after that all I had to do was rock, with “Made of Paper” and it’s straightforward, power-chord centric lead providing an honest reason for me to kill more brain cells by jerking my head back and forth. I’m amazed I lasted the entire set without getting another beer, but the Susan Constant had me hooked from the beginning, and refused to slow down even in the last few songs. The ballad “Draw Us All” brought the room to a pleasant swoon with its light guitar touches and piano melody…but we were quickly brought back to our usual happy bounce with the playful “Came/Went.” More synch pop was on schedule with “One Good Reason,” before the band launched into “Charles De Gaulle,” the opener for their first LP. I love it when bands put album openers near the end of their sets, and this particular song was no different. Bringing together the best of the Susan Constant’s upbeat dynamic, but also their penchant for adding a dance-pop element to pretty straightforward hard rock, “Charles De Gaulle” is potentially the best showcase of the group’s alt-rock direction, while still maintaining its catchiness. - See more at: http://allstonpudding.com/field-effect-susan-constant-deep-north-velah-middle-east-downstairs-823/#sthash.WtwNz007.dpuf - Allston Pudding

Bursting with heart and stamina, five-piece power-poppers The Susan Constant seem to blend everything great about the 80’s/90’s alternative rock canon into unbelievably catchy three-minute sonic missiles. - Allston Pudding

Though they formed in 2009, the Susan Constant — named after the largest ship in the 17th-century English Virginia Company's fleet that led to the founding of Jamestown — hit their musical stride with 2011's Rayonnement. Nearly two years later, their indie-pop sound is crystallized with this month's Shapes EP, a jittery collection of tunes led by "Locked Up," a sing-along shout-about showcasing the scrappy talents of vocalist Paul Sennott. Released on the band's own "microlabel," Tour de Stade Records, Shapes is clever and sophisticated without ever taking itself too seriously

Read more: http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/150493-boston-rock-andamp-pop-class-of-2013/#ixzz2vcczlrUz - Michael Marotta - Boston Phoenix

46. “Locked Up,” The Susan Constant — Live, baby, live! Sure, you got problems, listen to this song and get out into the sunset afternoon, head to the coast to get some rest, get locked up with me tonight! - Jed Gottlieb - Boston Herald

Starting off the first unofficial week of summer with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight for you! Today, we check in with an emerging player in the Boston music scene by the name of The Susan Constant. The band consists of Paul Sennott on lead vocals and guitar, Brian Kingsbury on guitar, Emily MacPherson on bass and backing vocals, Jason Rossman on drums, and Jim Bernat on keyboards and vocals. The band has an energetic and vivacious power pop sound, mixed in with a strong indie rock sensibility that sounds like a cross between Passion Pit and The Decemberists with their own unique spin on the world as we know it. I caught these guys in concert this past Saturday at Radio in Somerville, and I've actually seen these guys previously perform in the past, but something about their most recent performance really spoke to me. It was mostly due to the high energy wavelengths emanating strongly on stage that gravitated me towards their music, and just seeing them on stage I can tell that they were having the time of their lives and seeing them being drenched in sweat afterwards, you can tell that they put alot of time and effort into their performance. A terrific and formidable band that is currently holding a strong presence in the Boston scene that will only grow with time. Some recommended tracks for you to check out from them include "Locked Up" and "Tennessee".

For more information on The Susan Constant, head on over to their Facebook page located here where you can find everything you need to know about these amazing and talented musicians. The band can also be followed on Twitter from over here and find out when the band will be playing in the Beantown area next this summer. Check out their official website here for more earth shattering features related to the band, and check out their latest EP "Shapes" now available for free streaming or "pay what you want" download at their Bandcamp site located conveniently here. - Music Box Pete

"Our latest obsession" And How Radio, 107.5 FM, New Zealand - And How Radio, 107.5 FM, New Zealand

highly recommended “radio songs for people who don’t listen to radio”. So catchy that we don’t mind it at all. - Indiependentmusic.net

The Susan Constant is one of those bands that plays straight from the heart of the indie rock zeitgeist. In the style of the times, the band's songs have a poppy, almost upbeat feel while giving glimpses into self-destructive relationships and the darker side of love. When taken in their entirety, songs such as "Comes Apart" and "Nothing But Underwear" can be utterly devastating, even if, on occasion, the casual listener might miss just how dark the tunes really are. - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

The Susan Constant's debut EP, Rayonnement, is a pleasing three song introduction to their classic Eighties Boston rock sound. Their straight-ahead delivery brings to mind the college rock of Boston-scene originals Scruffy The Cat and Dumptruck - George Dow, The Deli Magazine

The Susan Constant walk a line between The Jayhawks and Death Cab For Cutie... It’s a great sound. My friend walked away a big fan. I did too. - Johnny Anguish, Daykamp Music

...The Susan Constant proved that catchier-than-Wes-Welker power pop is alive and well... - Michael Marotta, Music Editor, Boston Phoenix

If there was something noticeably lacking in the first two Rumble nights, it was charismatic frontmen/frontwomen ramping up the crowd and making a spectacle of their participation. This 2012 Subdued Vocalist Syndrome (with the exception of Commodore Vic of Cooling Towers in Night 1) ended early in Night 3, as the Susan Constant’s Paul Sennott took his band’s catchy power-pop melodies and volleyed them to greater heights with an animated and engaging appeal from center stage, like an alt-rock Justin Long welcoming all aboard his finely-tuned indie-pop vessel. The Constant are band with promise, their best work has yet to be written, and Boston's music scene needs more people like Paul Sennott. - Michael Marotta, Boston Phoenix

...the second coming of The Silencers. Smart lyrics, great musicianship and serious hooks. - Hal Newman, Playlist for the Big One

There are several aspects of a good musical leitmotif. I mean, most bands don’t even bother with them, let alone know what they are. “Charles de Gaulle” is a fantastic example of a group making use of the device that is sadly absent from most modern music.
In the case of The Susan Constant’s “Charles de Gaulle, the leitmotif is introduced in the very top of the song. A slow rising chord progression and a strong, swooping and dipping melody line combine to create the ride that this song becomes.
The theme of “Charles de Gaulle” proves itself capable at varying levels of speed and power, from the earnest beginnings of the track to the thumping, pounding pulse of the chorus delivered at full throttle. The rhythmic call and response of the vocal and guitar in the chorus really brings the hook home, as the vocals accentuate the word “-waiting-” and the guitar answers with its own slashing accent. The chorus will stick with the listener, whether or not they have a silly little mustache. - C.D. Di Guardia, Boston Band Crush

"Comes Apart" starts sort of like a new day, coming up over the horizon with hints of light and substance. A gently reverberating guitar signifies the beginning, fading in from the distance, as if a sound already in progress that is just now starting to approach the listener. While the title of the track implies some form of disintegration, this sound in this song is one of growth and renewal.

The steady sound of this song comes from its structure. The different sounds in "Comes Apart" don’t come and go all willy-nilly; the guitar that started the song sticks around until closing time. The heartbeat quarter-note bass drum keeps pumping, and the vocal melody works its way all through the scale. The chorus is the payoff, when the melody goes all the way up the octave, giving the listener the sound they have been expecting the entire track.

This is a very confident sounding track. Each element of the mix has enough strength to stand on its own – no one is propping anyone else up here or coasting. By the time the track is really going, it feels more like we’re surfing a current than letting something wash over us. The perpetual motion of "Comes Apart" eventually sweeps up the listener and everything else in its path, bringing us along the trip. - C.D. Di Guardia

...Their pop sound shines bright on "Made of Paper" and "Get Married"... - Jim Pasinski, JP's Music Blog

Recommended album June 3, 2011 - Bandcamp Favorites dot Blogspot dot com

...the savvy Hollywood producer who doesn’t want to shell out big bucks to U2 for the closing credits of his good-cop-gone-bad police thriller might be well advised to use “Runner” instead. - The Noise, Boston

"Anne, Ontario" is a level-headed, nigh-solemn march (or row, as it were) across one of the Great Lakes up to the great white north. This is a bit of a funeral march, but it’s not all drama and sadness; it’s like the song got over those long ago, and now marches with us into the land of acceptance. - C.D. Di Guardia, Boston Band Crush