If Andy Kim’s new album is a comeback attempt, it’s one that’s been gathering steam for close to 20 years, starting when Kim emerged from a long period of seclusion and began involving himself in the Toronto singer/songwriter community. As the teenage songwriting prodigy behind bubblegum hits like the Archies’ Sugar, Sugar, Kim enjoyed success in the 60s and early 70s and then withdrew from the music industry. The Toronto scene was a safe space for him to slowly reinvent himself and find like-minded musicians, which led to this unexpected collaboration with Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew.
There’s a novelty factor in an elder statesman of pop joining forces with an indie rock hero like Drew, but they sound surprisingly natural together. As much as Kim might be hoping to reach a younger audience through the pairing, Drew is also trying to figure out how to grow into the next phase of his own career, and It’s Decided is a pure distillation of their chemistry. The results are intimate yet expansive – a pleasing balance between post-rock sonic experimentation and traditional songcraft.
Top track: Sail On
Andy Kim plays Fort York as part of Field Trip on June 7.
