Ron Sexsmith, Canada’s king of self-doubt, has a funny side (look no further than his Twitter account to see for yourselves) that he mines more obviously on his new record than he has in the past.
Though more upbeat than its wonderfully sombre, mortality-focused predecessor, Carousel One has two faces: side A has a feel-good 70s pop/rock vibe, while side B contains a number of more melancholy songs and ballads. He seems to be making an effort to be more positive, though sometimes that comes across as cumbersome or strained. Perhaps Sexsmith’s signature croon is more suited to nostalgia and reflection.
I’ve always heard Kinks and early Beatles in Sexsmith’s work, so it’s fun to hear him boogie on Getaway Car (in which he escapes from a botched songwriters’ circle). And reggae-inflected love song Lucky Penny deserves to be cranked during a Sunday drive. Meanwhile, No One is perfect. Too bad Sexsmith buried this witty gem about confidence issues near the end.
Top track: No One
Stream the full album here. Ron Sexsmith plays Massey Hall May 2.