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Having stripped away the Stax-styled horns-and-strings wankery they experimented with on Palace Of Gold, Blue Rodeo celebrate their 20th anniversary by getting back to basics. Are You Ready is a rootsy rock record with a straightforward acoustic approach, in keeping with the strong alt-country vibe of early Blue Rodeo. While the Greg Keelor-penned title track, which appears in a more subdued form on his recent solo disc, is a bit of a misstep (this version’s uptempo beat feels awkward alongside Keelor’s cathartic lyrics about mourning his father’s death), the two core songwriters still complement each other’s strengths. The juxtaposition of Keelor’s folkiness with Jim Cuddy’s poppier tunes makes this album an easy and enjoyable listen.
