In Canada, where rock music is still something to be valued rather than exploited, enduring rock band
April Wine are back on a major label.
'Roughly Speaking' has only 8 tracks and a duration of a mere 25 minutes. The label's thinking? High quality, low price. Presumably to compete with I tunes and the P2P explosion.
Well, as far as the music is concerned they got it absolutely right. This is a 'no computers used in the making of this record' record. And boy does it sound good.
Melodic, tightly constructed songs, great playing, a lean, taut production and a warm, valve driven ambience all combine to produce one of the better releases of the last year or two.
It's also crystal clear that Myles Goodwin, Brian Greenway, Jim Clench and Jerry Mercer have been together a lot of years.
Goodwin's trick is to write songs of unerring simplicity. Blue collar songs that strike all the chords we connect with. No mean feat.
The Beatle-esque '
Sheila' is as flawless an example of the melodic rock songwriter's skill as you're likely to encounter. '
You Don't Even Know' steps further back in time to the innocence of fifties' pop, and brings it up to date. Goodwin's distinctive, laconic voice, his sincere song writing style and a working class worldview gives all this material an honest, hard hitting impact. To say nothing of the rock solid Clench/Mercer rhythm section and the importance of Brian Greenway's guitarwork, running the gamut from sultry magnificence to bright, chiming fills and frills.
The band aren't beyond springing a few surprises. The quiet emotional hold of
'I've Had Enough For Now' bursts free noisily on the back of Greenway's explosive soloing on the outro. Willie Nelson's ode to departed youth, '
Night Life' gets a bluesy hued, close harmony treatment and it works a treat.
The raw, back to their roots '
I Am I Am' just pulsates with seductive energy, while the short, fun loving folk song
'If You're Comin' is a richly atmospheric antidote to the cold indifference of 21st century corporate rock.
In fact, you could say that about the whole album really.
Seek this one out. Trust me, it'll be worth the effort.
Written by
Brian Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Show all reviews by BrianRatingsBrian: 8.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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