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Album reviews Music

>>> City and Colour

Fifth song Killing Time on City and Colour’s fifth album finds Dallas Green facing an identity crisis. “Lately I’ve been thinking about just who I’m supposed to be,” he sings in his effortless falsetto, which is the star throughout the record.

It’s little wonder. Over 15 years, Green has gone from tattooed screamer in Alexisonfire to hit-making singer/songwriter to superstar Canrocker who makes collaborative albums with Pink (and opens for Neil Young) and, on his new record, R&B-leaning crooner.

The stylistic jumps between those things aren’t as extreme as they read on paper (aside from the Alexisonfire-to-acoustic-strummer part). Green’s a consistently strong songwriter whose melancholy sensitivity always uplifts rather than flattens. Those melodies!

But this time around he’s found his soul. It’s in his phrasing, his rhythms, the occasional Hammond organ punctuation and sultry balladry. And he goes in for more atmosphere and dynamics than usual, allowing every song to build, crest and dip. Think Rhye meets Dan Mangan + Blacksmith.

Top track: Mizzy C

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