Rick Hayes wrote this review.
Ron Sexsmith has been flirting with major success for a number of years now, always on the edge; close, but no cigar. Record sales have never been great, but he has received the accolades of such luminaries as Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney, who have stated many times that he is their favourite songwriter. He is a writer’s writer, a master craftsman capable of beautiful and melodic tunes, and touching and sensitive lyrics. And he is admired by business insiders who wonder why the audiences are lagging behind in discovering this gem. The audience he has is dedicated, but relatively small.
Now, with the release of his newest CD Retriever I really think he has turned the corner and is about to step into the sunlight for all to see. There are some serious subjects broached on this album, from pity for a driver who kills a child in an accident, to the loss of dignity on reality shows, but the overall mood is happiness, which is also the title of one of the tunes. This is an uplifting album, in spite of these rather heavy themes. It leaves you with an appreciation for true love, commitment and compassion.
The opening tune, “Hard Bargain,” is a love song of a different sort. That’s the thing with Sexsmith; he always seems to have a slightly different way of expressing thoughts that have been written about by everyone. They come out sounding new and fresh. In this opening tune he thanks his love for not allowing him to wallow in self pity and let the world get him down. The tune is treated simply, as are most of the tunes on this record (with a few exceptions where strings are used). The production has a homey feel to it. Martin Terefe produced and plays on most tracks. His guitar work on “Hard Bargain” is raw sounding. I feel like I am sitting beside his amp with the band spread around the room. I mean “raw” in the sense that not a lot of work went into looking for the perfect guitar sound. The important thing here is what he chose to play, and how it fits musically with the song. And believe me, everything on this album fits perfectly.
The second tune, “Imaginary Friends,” talks of being let down by insincere people looking for the limelight, and not being real and true. “You can count all your friends on the fingers of one scalded hand.” Still, the song is more of a tip of the hat to true friends than a whiney diatribe against the shallow hangers on.
The third cut, “Not About to Lose,” just brims with determination to protect happiness gained. “If I were to listen to the sound of that little voice, I might turn back now, but I won’t be taking fear’s advice, not after all I’ve sacrificed.” Like all of the tunes here, this one is very poppy and melodic. None of them seem contrived at all, just little lyrical gems placed over top of very hum-able tunes that leave you feeling good at the end.
The next song, “Tomorrow in Her Eyes,” is a beautiful piano tune joined later by strings. Its simplicity is a match for the simple message of the words; doubts about the future can be washed away by looking into someone’s eyes, and there’s a promise that there will be more time together in the future. “I see tomorrow in her eyes, and where my future lies. So I don’t need a crystal ball at all because I’ve seen tomorrow in her eyes.”
I have only talked about the first four songs. I could go on raving for pages. The album does not weaken in its quality. All of the songs are strong and are treated with the respect they deserve. Daniel Lanois was involved as well, although he is not credited with any production. He took the jacket photos! If this album were a Spinal Tap amp, I would have to say “This one goes up to eleven.”
(Warner Music Canada, 2004)
