Jeremy Messersmith, The Reluctant Graveyard
The Reluctant Graveyard, self-released, is the third and final piece of Minneapolis native Jeremy Messersmith’s “life-cycle trilogy,” and, as you might ascertain from the title and from the fact that it’s the final part of a life-cycle theme, it’s about death. But don’t let that put you off. Death has never sounded so good.
This is a solid album from start to finish (a rarity these days, it seems), full of adroit songwriting and fine arrangements. Messersmith’s voice is one of those dulcet but assertive voices that brings to mind singers like Josh Rouse. The tracks swing from rousing power pop, Beatle-esque chime, and ballads both brooding and charming with gentle acoustic guitar and stirring strings.
You can listen to tracks from all three of his albums streaming from his website.
Favourite tracks:
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Luke Doucet & The White Falcon, Steel City Trawler
I’ve been a fan of Luke Doucet’s for quite some time, and while his recent albums have always had plenty of enjoyable songs, Steel City Trawler is his most accomplished album yet. Maybe it’s the songs, or maybe it’s because it was produced by Andrew Scott of Sloan, but for some reason it feels like a more solid, consistent musical statement. The CD booklet offers a nifty comic book that interpolates the song lyrics into a narrative tour through Doucet’s current home base of Hamilton, Ontario (aka “the Hammer!”), hence the album title (Hamilton being known for its steel industry). You can see some of the comic in the electronic press kit.
Favourite tracks:
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Cee Lo Green, Fuck You
As an album, The Lady Killer has some good tracks, like Bright Lights Bigger City, Love Gun and Bodies, but, let’s face it, it’s the song Fuck You that is the runaway winner here. Song of the Year? Quite possibly. What I really love about it is the tongue-in-cheek aspect of it. Even the simple fact that he says “I’m like, fuck you…” It just provides enough of a self-deprecating quality that it tempers the bitterness of the invective without taking away your visceral enjoyment of sharing the emotion.
And how can you not dig these lyrics:
Yeah I’m sorry, I can’t afford a Ferrari
But that don’t mean I can’t get you there
I guess he’s an Xbox and I’m more Atari
But the way you play your game ain’t fair
The video is fantastic, too, capturing the humour of the song perfectly. If there was a more engaging and catchy song from 2010, I’ve yet to hear it. Doesn’t hurt that it’s also mischievous and fun and uses the F-word!
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Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record
Perhaps it’s become easy to be dismissive of BSS because they’ve become the uber-hipster band. But good music is good music, and even though there is a fair amount of filler on this one, the tracks that stood out for me were very enjoyable.
Favourite tracks:
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Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs, God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise
Sometimes it takes a while for an artist to get to you. I’ve heard a few of Ray Lamontagne’s previous albums, and I recall thinking that he has one of today’s most distinctive and moving voices, but none of those albums really grabbed me. Then along came God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise. Now maybe it’s just one of those things, where you need to hear something from a certain artist at a certain time. You have to be ready to receive it. Whatever the reason, this one really grabbed me.
Ray must have been listening to a lot of Joni Mitchell, because several songs feature a delivery that takes a distinctive Court and Spark-era Joni flavour.
Favourite tracks:
God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise
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Janelle Monáe, Tightrope
Now it’s time to dance! Though nothing else from Janelle Monáe’s album really caught my attention (maybe I need to give it another listen), this song knocked my socks off! Obviously it owes a great deal to things like James Brown’s Get On the Good Foot and other R&B/soul forerunners (foredancers?), but it’s simply irresistible. And the video for the song is amazingly creative, fresh and faithful to the spirit of the song, while being its own entity. Get up!
