Published on Aug 11, 2004
Yeah, it’s another Cowboy Junkies release. Got a problem with
that?
The Cowboy Junkies don’t perform any left-field artistic detours
or harden their sound or strip their sound down on their tenth
album, One Soul Now. Listen to their first release, The Trinity
Sessions and follow the band up to
One Soul Now and you’ll hear a band that has slowly changed
its sound so subtlety, many casual fans will find be hard-pressed
to differentiate one Junkies album from another. Their evolution is
similar to that of a river or a lake – you don’t see the change
unless you take a snapshot and return to the same site five or ten
years later.
One Soul Now‘s title track starts with a Margo Timmins’
voice going into a funky, laid back groove, but the song really
kicks into gear midway through when Micahel Timmins’ lays a guitar
riff that is as expansive as a desolate country highway. Michael
Timmins’ guitar work is blusier than on their last release, Open.
He also remains one of the most underrated songwriters in rock.
However, some of the songs have their inconsistencies; a lyric
bordering on cliché is followed by a zinger, as in the song
“Why This One”: “Strange and odd, twisted as a contradiction / A
glittering jewel of flaws and celebration.”
Like
Open and
Miles From Our Home and even their most radically-diverse
album,
Pale Sun, Crescent Moon, One Soul Now has a few notable
Cowboy Junkies mainstays: a poppy song that is just accessible
enough to be heard on adult contemporary radio or as overhead music
in a Von Maur clothing store (“Stars of Our Stars”), Jesus imagery
(“Simon Keeper”, “The Slide”) and a much-needed rave-up to break up
the “sameness” of their slower songs (“No Long Journey Home”). If
you are a critic with no understanding of the Cowboy Junkies, you
may dismiss this as being formulaic. If you’re a fan, it’s the mark
consistency.
The Cowboy Junkies have not released an artistic failure since
1988. They have also not undertaken major artistic risks (other
than the risky jump to their own label, Latent Recordings). But
musically, the Cowboy Junkies are one of the savviest bands in
rock. By shunning major-level promotions, the band is free to
record their albums with very little outside pressure. Their
devoted following practically guarantees sellouts in small
venues.
One Soul Now is a worthy purchase, albeit a less essential
purchase than
The Trinity Sessions, Pale Sun, Crescent Moon or
Open. And much like
Pale Sun… and
Open, the album gradually reveals itself with repeat
listens. Those keeping score — the Cowboy Junkies stand at an
undefeated 10-0 on their albums. Most bands would kill for that
record.