Len (band)

Len is a Canadian alternative rock duo based in Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of siblings Marc Costanzo (vocals, guitar) and Sharon Costanzo (vocals, bass) and a revolving lineup of touring and studio musicians.[3]

Len
OriginAlmonte, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active
  • 1991–2005
  • 2011–present
Labels
Associated acts
Members
Past members
  • Brendan Canning
  • Planet Pea (AKA Kudu5)[1]
  • Derek "D Rock" MacKenzie[2]
  • Drew "You're You" Lidkea
  • Drew MacEachern
  • Jody Mayne
  • Roy "Big Dog" Thirlwall
  • Mike Ramsay
  • Craig Bennett
  • Matt Kelly
  • Malcolm Sweeney

History

Len was formed in 1991 in Toronto as a punk band.[4] Switching to mainly rock and pop music, over the next several years they released two albums, an EP and several singles on Funtrip Records,[5] including 1995's "Candy Pop".[6]

Len released a more hip-hop oriented album, You Can't Stop the Bum Rush, in 1999;[7] a song from the album, "Steal My Sunshine", based on the old disco hit "More, More, More" by the Andrea True Connection,[8] was also released that year, and climbed the popular charts both in Canada and the United States.[9][10] Len was nominated for a 2000 Juno Award as best new group,[11] and the album was nominated as Best Alternative Album.[12]

At one point, the band's lineup included Brendan Canning,[13][14] who co-founded the indie rock band Broken Social Scene shortly after leaving Len.

Len produced no further hits, but continued to release albums until 2005, followed by a seven-year hiatus.[15]

The group became active again in 2011. The following year the group released a music video, "It's My Neighbourhood",[16] and an album It's Easy if You Try.[17]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[18]		 CAN
[19]		 UK
[20]
Superstar ———
Get Your Legs Broke
  • Released: 1997
  • Label: Funtrip
  • Formats: CD
 ———
You Can't Stop the Bum Rush
  • Released: May 25, 1999
  • Label: Work
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
 4632177
The Diary of the Madmen ———
It's Easy If You Try
  • Released: October 16, 2012
  • Label: EMI
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 ———
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays
Title Details
Len
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Funtrip
  • Format: Cassette

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
CAN
[23]		 UK
[20]		 US
[24]
1994 "Slacker" — — — Superstar
1995 "Candy Pop" — — —
"Showoff" — — —
1996 "Smarty Pants" — — — Get Your Legs Broke
1997 "She's Not" — — —
"Trillion Daze" — — —
1999 "Steal My Sunshine" 3 8 9 You Can't Stop the Bum Rush
"Feelin' Alright" — — —
2000 "Cryptik Souls Crew" — 28 —
"Kids in America" — — — Digimon: The Movie
2002 "Bobby" — — — We Be Who We Be
2003 "It's a Brother Sister Thing" — — — The Diary of the Madmen
2012 "It's My Neighbourhood" — — — It's Easy If You Try

Awards
Ceremony Year Award Song
MuchMusic Video Awards 1999 Best Video "Steal My Sunshine"
Best Pop Video
Favourite Canadian Video

References
  1. "Home". November 1, 2000. Archived from the original on November 1, 2000.
  2. "Who's Who with Derek MacKenzie". Hand'Solo Records. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. Carrie Bell (13 November 1999). "The Modern Age". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 97. ISSN 0006-2510.
  4. "POP MUSIC : Len’s Day in the Sun". Los Angeles Times, By STEVE APPLEFORD. Sep. 12, 1999
  5. "Behind The Music: Steal My Sunshine". Stereogum, Peter Helman | May 19, 2016
  6. "A Completely Biased Ranking of the 60 Best CanRock Songs Ever, Part I". Vice, by Cam Lindsay. Sep 26 2016
  7. "STEAL MY SUNSHINE LEN You Can’t Stop the Bum Rush (1999)". Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives. June 30, 2017 - Page 68
  8. Brunner, Rob. "'Steal' this hook". Entertainment Weekly, issue 501, page 69. September 3, 1999. Retrieved October 2, 2008.
  9. "Top Singles". RPM Magazine, - Volume 69, No. 11. Jul 05, 1999
  10. "How Steal My Sunshine became an accidental summer hit". Chris dela Torre, Calgary Eyeopener, CBC Radio One, Jul 25, 2013
  11. LeBlanc, Larry (12 February 2000). "Morissette leads Canada's Juno nomination list". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 45–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  12. "Rocking Good News". Macleans Magazine, page 64. Nicholas Jennings, March 13, 2000
  13. "Brendan Canning Something for All of Us - Review of Brendan Canning's Album Something for All of Us". Altmusic.about.com. 2008-07-22. Archived from the original on 2014-07-11. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  14. "Video Hangover: "Drinking In L.A." / "Steal My Sunshine"". Stereogum. April 2008. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  15. "Len: Looking Forward With No Regrets". Aesthetic Magazine ⋅ October 27, 2012 By: Curtis Sindrey –
  16. Steve Kupferman. "Len, a Neglected Local One-Hit Wonder, Releases a New Toronto-Centric Music Video". Torontoist, October 16, 2012
  17. "Remember Len? One-hit wonder Toronto band is back with new music". Toronto Star, By Laura Kane, Oct. 23, 2012
  18. "Len Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  19. "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Albums". RPM. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  20. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  21. "American album certifications – Len – You Can't Stop the Bum Rush". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  22. "Canadian certifications – Len". Music Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  23. "Results: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  24. "Len Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
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