Published on Apr 5, 2004
Perhaps it’s the curmudgeon in me, but I occasionally mutter
that I knew about Great Big Sea before most people in the US did. I
remember paying ruinous rates for import copies of
Up and
Play long before someone at Rounder/Zoe got a good idea and
signed the boys from Newfoundland up. However, it’s impossible to
remain grumpy very long while listening to GBS; they’re just so
darn…joyful. Perhaps even better, they’ve grown as musicians;
starting with their groundbreaking
Turn, they became something more than just a ceili band, a
synthesis of rock, folk, Celtic, and a few other influences whose
whole is distinctly more than the sum of its parts. As such,
they’ve become huge in Canada, with their last studio CD,
Sea Of No Cares, debuting at number one on the Canadian
album charts.
However, the road developed some bumps recently. Longtime
bassist Darrell Power left the band in January of 2003 after ten
years of no lineup changes. So as GBS headed to the studio to
follow up
Sea, there were some questions.
Fear not, O Ye DV Faithful. Consider ’em answered. The seventh
disc from Great Big Sea,
Something Beautiful, is just that. Alan Doyle, Sean McCann,
and Bob Hallett, joined by drummer Kris MacFarlane and Moxy Fruvous
bassist Murray Foster, have turned in a tight, concise, and
downright tasty disc. Having now seen them live (check out our
concert review
here), I think I can safely
say that GBS takes names, kicks butt, and can get ME — a rather
large and immobile individual — to dance.
The production on
Something Beautiful is immaculate, handled by Michael
Phillip Wojewoda, best known for producing Barenaked Ladies’ early
CDs and Ashley MacIsaac’s groundbreaking
hi how are you today. The hallmark of this CD is vocal
harmonies that are even more intricate than past GBS CDs, fueled by
the addition of Foster’s hallmark baritone. There are also a few
song surprises, including a lovely cover of Runrig’s “The Pride Of
Summer” (retitled to “Bang The Drum”), and a rather interesting
songwriting contribution from Bob Hallett — more on that in a
moment.
Highlights include the driving opening track “Shines Right
Through Me”; Sean McCann’s gentle vocals on “Summer”; Alan Doyle’s
tribute to his new niece, “Sally Ann”; the truly wonderful “Let It
Go”, which gets my vote for the best song likely to be overlooked
on this CD; the traditional ballad “John Barbour”; the elegant and
magnificent “Lucky Me”…then, of course, there’s “Helmethead”.
Remember I mentioned Bob Hallett’s songwriting? He has given us
the hilariously funny “Helmethead”, a song that mixes “I’m A Rover”
with the Hanson Triplets from
Slap Shot to tell the story of a hockey bruiser who has more
luck with the ladies than with his skates. I’m an American, I’m not
supposed to laugh at hockey jokes. This should be illegal, darn
it.
I could go on and on like this, but it’s taking away from time I
could listen to this CD.
Something Beautiful is an early contender for 2004’s Top Ten
and a magnificent piece of work from the most original band
currently recording. Do yourself a favor and pick it up today.