Ron Sexsmith - 'Cobblestone Highway' (Nettwerk America)
3/5
By: Joshua K
Here are a few things you should know about Ron Sexsmith:
1. He's a Canadian singer-songwriter who began his career on the Toronto folk circuit, before falling under the wing of roots-rocker Steve Earle (who co-produced Sexsmith's last album, 2001's 'Blue Boy')
2. His voice takes a little getting used to - but, once you do, it's an effective instrument in itself, lending a melancholy timbre to his whimsical compositions
3. He's mates with Coldplay, having opened some of their US shows last year
4. Album-track 'Gold In Them Hills' appears twice - the second time as a duet with the 'Play's Chris Martin
Why do these points matter, you ask? #4, of course, is likely to be a big part of EMI's marketing strategy for this record. And Martin's voice does add depth to the piece, a piano-led ballad about unearthing the bright side of life. But frankly, this alternate take isn't noticeably different from or better than the original. It reeks of commerce and is absolutely the wrong reason for you to buy 'Cobblestone Runway'.
#1 - 3, on the other hand, tell you what to expect sonically. In other words, they hint at the right reasons to buy this record. Rich, full-bodied songs about the BIG topics: love; hope; redemption; tolerance. A mix of sombre ballads ('For A Moment'), countrified rock ('Disappearing Act') and soulful, mid-tempo pop ('These Days', 'Heart's Desire'). And just when you think you've got Sexsmith pegged, he makes like a Canadian Badly Drawn Boy on 'Dragonfly on Bay Street' and 'Up The Road' — playfully adding funk rhythms and electronic FX to the former, and jaunty keyboards to the latter.
With his second-LP to date then, Sexsmith proves himself a still-emerging talent to watch; just be sure to buy his record for the songs, rather than for the (fleeting) appearance of a famous friend.
Artists in this article: Ron Sexsmith
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