Jason Plumb and the Willing - All Is More Than Both

Jason Plumb and the Willing – All Is More Than Both
2012, Soccer Mom Records

Saskatchewan-based singer/songwriter Jason Plumb got his start in the early 1990’s as the front man for The Waltons.  Touring with Barenaked Ladies early in their career, The Waltons became a fan favorite across Canada and parts of the Northeast U.S, largely on the strength of Plumb’s songwriting and his voice.  The band waned with the 1990’s, and Plumb has gone on to become one of the most respect Indie songwriters in Canada.  Both as a solo artist and with his band The Willing, Plumb historically brings a quiet intensity and subtle melancholy to his songwriting that is compelling.  Plumb turns a corner on his latest album, All Is More Than Both, his third turn with The Willing.  With Canadian super-producer Michal Phillip Wojewoda at the helm, Plumb finds the anger and the joy embedded in his melancholy and lets it rip on what is his most vibrant album to date.

Recapturing a sonic vigor not seen since his earliest work with The Waltons, Plumb begins a full-on aural assault with “First Time”, a wondrous blend of 1980’s rock and Americana that recalls the glory days of a teenager and first love.  This is easily the most commercial single Plumb has produced in some time, but he does so without giving up a bit of quality in his songwriting.  The chorus is infectious and will inhabit your head for days; you won’t be able to help yourself from dancing and singing along.  “Losin’” has a much darker and heavier feel.  Co-written with Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies (who also contributes vocals here), there is a palpable anger to the song that may surprise longtime fans.

“What You Leave” is quite another matter altogether, a wonderfully melodic take on growing up, aging gracefully and coming to terms with what is important in life.  Former Barenaked Lady Steven Page lends his golden pipes in support of the most aurally appealing track on the album.  “Alone With You” is a catchy, mid-tempo anti-love song with a chorus that sounds like it belongs on 1970’s classic rock radio (Eagles, anyone?)  Plumb’s brilliance shines here in simple things, and you’ll find it hard to get this song out of your head.

Jason Plumb returns to gentle, melodic melancholy on “Hold On”, a gorgeous rumination on not being taken in again by love.  The vocals here are sublime, and Plumb builds the song in small measures to a chorus you simple cannot shake.  Listen for vocal support from Alexa Dirks, whose voice could light up a room.  “All By Myself” finds Jason Plumb and the Willing muscling up for a buoyant mid-tempo rocker full of the sort of hooks that make radio programmers drool.  Don’t be surprised if this song finds its way to the airwaves as we move into the summer months.

“On A Chain” blends pop and Americana in a brilliant reflection on not being able to break away from an old love.  The chorus is full of gorgeous vocal harmonies spread out around an edgy melody line; the contrast is appealing, and the mix of voices is pure magic.  Plumbs dips into romantic territory with “Falling Star”, which sounds as if it might have been left over from his Beauty In This World sessions.  It would, in fact, be surprising if this were a leftover, as the song is Plumb at his finest blend of poetry and melody.  It’s a beauty, and builds into a symphonic sounding chorus that leaves an impression on the listener.

"Under A Gun” finds Plumb sticking with his more lyric side, crafting a subtly beautiful melody line drenched in an ethereal, country-tinged arrangement that wraps you u and rocks you gently in its arms.  “Sweet Misery” starts with the simplest of piano lines and builds into an ode to the mix of suffering and joy that so often makes up love.  The twist here is that Plumb is looking back at someone from the past and realizing how good it was even if he couldn’t see it at the time.  Plumb reasserts his status as one of the finest working songwriters of his day right here.  You’ll have this song on continuous repeat.  Jason Plumb and the Willing close things out on a pragmatic note with the incredibly upbeat country/rock of “Naturally (Ain’t Up To Me)”. The chorus will invade your brain and refuse to leave as Plumb waxes poetic on a newfound acceptance of our ultimate place in life.

I’ll step outside the role of reviewer for a moment and offer a disclaimer: I have been a Jason Plumb fan for years.  I saw him with the Waltons back in the day when they opened for Barenaked Ladies in Ontario and small clubs in Buffalo.  I have followed his career as he has branched out; first on his own and later, with Jason Plumb and The Willing.  It’s not surprising that a fan is going to like the work of one of his favorite artists.  (Reviewer hat back on.)  What is surprising, however, is when a well-established songwriter who is respected by his peers remakes himself and raises the bar twenty-five years into a successful career.  Some credit has to be given to Michael Phillip Wojewoda for overseeing the same sort of transformation he has wrought with acts such as Barenaked Ladies, The Rheostatics, Spirit of the West and Ashley MacIsaac.  But the bulk of the credit goes to Jason Plumb and the Willing.  All Is More Than Both is brilliant from first note to last.  This is Prairie Music Award worthy, Juno Award worthy, and yes, GRAMMY Award worthy.  It’s also one of the easiest selections ever as a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating:  5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Jason Plumb at www.jasonplumb.com or www.myspace.com/jasonplumbandthewilling.  All Is More Than Both is a Canadian release.  If you need a CD, you'll have to go MapleMusic.  Digital versions are available from the e-tailers below.

     iTunes

Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.

Former Barenaked Ladies vocalist engaged...

Steven Page, the former co-lead vocalist for rock band Barenaked Ladies tweeted in the early hours of this morning that he is now engaged to his girlfriend of four years, Christine Benedicto.  The pair have registered for Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest and are seeking votes.  You can check out their entry here.

Page is one of the co-founders of Canadian rock quintet (now quartet) Barenaked Ladies.  Page and Ed Robertson wrote/sang many of the band's signature hits from its inception in 1988 until Page's departure in 2009 for a solo career.  Page released his second solo album of original material in the Fall of 2010.  You can check out our review of Page One here.

Review: Barenaked Ladies – All In Good Time

Barenaked Ladies – All In Good Time
2010, Raisin Records/EMI

When the Barenaked Ladies lost co-front man Steve Page last year some fans questioned whether the band could carry on. The four remaining members Ed Robertson (vocals, guitar); Kevin Hearn (keys, vocals, guitar, etc.); Jim Creeggan (bass, vocals) and Tyler Stewart (drums, vocals) decided to continue as a quartet. While their early shows as a foursome did show some growing pains as the band learned different vocal parts than they had sung for, in some cases, the last two decades, it was clear that the change energized the band. On March 23, 2010 (Canada) and March 30, 2010 (USA), Barenaked Ladies will release their first album with the new lineup, All In Good Time. Longtime fans may have their worries, but this is Barenaked Ladies’ best work to date.

All In Good Time opens with the album’s first single “You Run Away”, a song that seems clearly written about the frustration felt by Robertson at the departure of Steve Page. While the band has been very professional about Page’s departure, the emotions expressed here are very clear even if Page is never mentioned. The melody is a thing of beauty; simple but lasting. “Summertime” carries echoes of some of Paul McCartney’s work with Wings while introducing some particular muscular guitar in counterpoint to the easy-listening arrangement. It’s a surprising turn for the band but a very enjoyable one. Kevin Hearn takes the mic for “Another Heartbreak”, a mid-tempo tune that fits Hearn’s tendency toward writing upbeat sounding songs with melancholic lyrics. It’s one of the better songs Hearn has contributed as a songwriter to the band thus far. Barenaked Ladies pull another sonic surprise on “Four Seconds”, a rapid-fire lyrical experience with a distinctly European flavor. Don’t be surprised if “Four Seconds” ends up as a single with a wildly successful dance club mix down the line.

Jim Creeggan brings a quirky ballad in “On The Lookout”, a 1970’s AM Radio-style tune with modern flourishes. Creeggan’s voice has been vastly under-represented on past albums and it’s good to hear his distinctive sound here. Robertson is up next with “Ordinary”, a gorgeous folk-rocker with some country attitude in its origins. For whatever else they may have lost in the past year, the vocal mix here sounds as good as ever. “I Have Learned” finds Robertson amidst an angry, muscular rocker that’s very atypical of the band’s past work. Fans will speculate if “I Have Learned” reflects on the band’s last year, and it’s quite possible, but it’s a nice change of pace from a band that’s garnered a reputation for a lighter sound. “Every Subway Car” is a love song that seems to be colored in the dark textures of urban decay. The song is positively upbeat while taking a slightly darker perspective of the world than fans may be used to.

Kevin Hearn’s “Jerome” sounds like an ode to the Old West; a down-tempo paean to the ghosts that still walk the streets. “How Long” is a high-powered rock tune that displays some seriously melodic muscle. Robertson takes vocals on “Golden Boy”, perhaps the clearest song reference to Page on the album. The song echoes sentiments raised in “You Run Away” as well as some of the comments Page has made in the press since departing the band. The song is very solid, with the sort of upbeat chorus you’d expect from Barenaked Ladies, but includes uncharacteristic anger delivered in gentle but pointed tones. Creeggan takes the mic one last time for “I Saw It”, a gentle breakup ballad that is a nice counter to the preceding track while perhaps staying on subject. “The Love We’re In” is a brief and rueful observation on a relationship that isn’t working. Ed Robertson takes vocals for the last time on the album in a song that sounds like it’s incomplete, although that plays entirely to the subject of the song. Kevin Hearn says goodnight on behalf of Barenaked Ladies with “Watching The Northern Lights”, a peaceful rumination that reflects, after all of the struggle of the past year, Barenaked Ladies have landed in a good place.

You never know what a major personnel change will do to a band. Some come out as good as ever, while some bands flounder until either the original line-up reunites or the band hangs it up. Barenaked Ladies seem to be trying for the much rarer distinction of actually getting better. All In Good Time lacks the narcissistic anger and dysfunction that Page’s songwriting brought, but that well is filled by real emotion generated through the trials and tribulations of the past year. Musically, All In Good Time is Barenaked Ladies’ finest work yet. This is an album you’ll live with for a while. All In Good Time is a new cornerstone for the band, and a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Barenaked Ladies at http://www.barenakedladies.com/ or www.myspace.com/barenakedladies. All In Good Time drops March 23, 2010 in Canada and March 30, 2010 in the US and the UK. All In Good Time can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com in either the standard edition or special edition (with t-shirt and bonus tracks). Digital versions are available through Amazon.com and iTunes.

Review: Barenaked Ladies - You Run Away (single)

Barenaked Ladies - You Run Away
2010, Raisin Records

It's hard to believe it's been 12 years since Barenaked Ladies dominated both US and Canadian radio with One Week, much less that it's been 17 years since I first saw them in an over-crowded and likely illegally packed former truck garage in Buffalo, NY. I've heard Barenaked Ladies go from a jazzy acoustic-Pop sound to brooding new wave to Poppy dementia to mellowing Pop maestros who Paul McCartney himself calls one of the most interesting bands in Pop music today. Co-founder/vocalist/songwriter Steven Page departed the band last year, wanting a larger share/stage for his songwriting, leaving Barenaked Ladies as a quartet for the first time in nearly two decades. The band chose to continue in this fashion rather than trying to replace Page's iconic voice.

Barenaked Ladies will release their 11th studio album, All In Good Time, on March 23, 2010 in Canada with a US release due on March 30th. It will be the first new material as a quartet and has been a source of both agita and excitement for longtime fans. On January 8th, the Ladies released the first single, You Run Away, on their website. It would be hard to call You Run Away a departure for the band, as BNL have ever been moving toward a more developed and nuanced sound, but for years Ed Robertson and Steve Page were yang and yin, respectively, for the band. They served to balance one another, as Page's darker side brought out the lighter aspects of Robertson's musical character. Over the past few albums, Barenaked Ladies have become more and more egalitarian in their songwriting, changing the balance of songwriting duties and influences.

This change in structure started to bring out a fuller texture in the band in general, and Robertson's songwriting in particular. If You Run Away is any indication, the change that has been fomenting for the past decade comes into full bloom in 2010. You Run Away is a mid-tempo, sorrowful ballad. It could be a song about a failed relationship (and I am sure some fans will speculate about the lyrics and Page's departure), but it's not an angry song. The melody is among the finest Barenaked Ladies have crafted in their 20+ years together, and it might be just the tune needed to return Barenaked Ladies to the Pop charts.

Robertson is in amazing voice, and arrangement is serene and melancholy, full of an almost tragic beauty. If You Run Away is representative of the album, All In Good Time could be their finest album yet. On a purely subjective level, as a fan, You Run Away brings me back to a time and place when I used to listen to the band incessantly. Not because it sounds like they used to, but because it sounds like Barenaked Ladies are once again creating like they used to.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Barenaked Ladies at http://www.barenakedladies.com/. Barenaked Ladies will release All In Good Time (read review here) on their own label, Raisin Records, but recently signed a distribution agreement with EMI Music. The song will be released on iTunes in the near future. For now you can stream You Run Away on their website. You Run Away and All In Good Time were produced by Michael Philip Wojewoda, who previously produced the band's groundbreaking 1993 debut album, Gordon, and their 2008 Children's album Snacktime, as well as albums for Spirit Of The West, Great Big Sea, Ashley MacIsaac and The Rheostatics.

Concert Review: Jason Plumb And The Willing - June 16, 2009 - The Orrange Sunroom, Kenmore, NY

Jason Plumb & The Willing – The Orrange Sunroom, Tuesday June 16, 2009

I had the distinct pleasure to be invited to a private performance by Jason Plumb & The Willing at the home of Bob & Maureen Orrange this past week. This is the first time I had seen Plumb on his own, as my past concert experiences with him had been as lead singer for Canadian Indie faves The Waltons. This was a small house concert with perhaps 40 attendees, but the audience was more than enthusiastic enough to make up for its size. Jason Plumb was self-effacing and humble before, during and after the show, indicating that this constituted something of a live rehearsal for the band for a series of dates in June in Ontario. You wouldn’t know it was a rehearsal from the performance, Plumb & the Willing were spot on right from the opening notes of Starlight, Starbright. In spite of taking most of the first song to get all the levels worked out in that small space, Plumb gave an affecting performance of one of the more optimistic songs in his songbook. Plumb and The Willing sailed through I Do and The Middle Of Nowhere, noting that it was only the second time the band had played the latter (you’d never know).

Plumb launched next into Satellite after talking briefly about writing the song with Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies; he was in perfect voice here, and it was very clear that The Willing were clicking on all eight cylinders. Up next was Neil Young’s Tell Me Why, in arrangement Young himself would have stood up and saluted had he been in attendance. Perhaps the biggest Wow! moment of the show came on Rubbing Off, done up in a country arrangement that was absolutely amazing. The Willing gave heartfelt readings of Heartless and Wascana (a house favorite, particularly of diminutive co-host Jess), before breaking into one of my favorite Plumb tunes, Protest Song. Wrapped into the middle of Protest Song was Plumb’s earliest hit with The Waltons, Colder Than You; at the transition you could see smiles light up on the faces of those in attendance. The Willing returned to Protest Song before launching into Drive, the first single from Plumb’s latest disc, Wide Open Music: Songs For Saskatchewan. Guitarist Dan Silljer almost stole the show here with a wicked guitar solo. Plumb closed out the night with a cover of The Jayhawks’ Blue.

Jason Plumb is one of those performers who aren’t consumed by fame. He makes music because he loves making music; he writes songs because he needs to. Anyone who’s followed him for any length of time knows he’s one of the best songwriters working in popular music. The quality of his work his drawn to him an amazing band in The Willing, consisting on this night of Dan Silljer on guitar, Gord Smith on bass, Mike Thompson on drums, Jeff Mcleod on accordion and piano, Cody Gamracy on guitar and a new violinist named Carmella (I didn’t catch her last name). It was a night not to be missed (even though I almost did), and bodes well for anyone seeing Jason Plumb And The Willing this summer. If you are in the vicinity of one of his shows, make sure you don’t miss it!

The show was opened by Buffalo’s own McCarthyizm, who put on quite a performance of their own. Highlights were something that co-host Jess kept referring to as “The Pub Song” and Mt. St. Michel, from their 2001 album Pair O’ Docs.

Check out our reviews of Jason Plumb & The Willing’s most recent album, Wide Open Music: Songs For Saskatchewan, as well as their previous album, the exquisite Beauty In This World.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Saturday, June 20, 2009 – Toronto, ON
C’Est What? – 67 Front St. E
NXNE Music Festival – Official Showcase
1:00 AM, $25.00

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 – Hamilton, ON
The Casbah – 306 King St. W.
10:00 PM

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 – London, ON
London Music Club – 470 Colborne Street
8:00 PM, $7.00 (w/ Pat Robitaille)

Thursday, June 25, 2009 – Toronto, ON
Hugh’s Room – 2261 Dundas Street W
Wide Open Music release party with Miranda Mulholland & The Roaring Girl Cabaret
7:30 PM, $15.00 ADV/$17.00 DOOR

Saturday, July 31, 2009 – Regina, SK
Buffalo Days
w/ Colin James

Review: Tireless Sedans - Parts + Labour EP

Tireless Sedans - Parts + Labour EP
2009, Superbob Records/SOCAN

I've always felt a sort of vague enmity flowing out of Moncton, New Brunswick. It all goes back to my childhood days as a fan of the (then) Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League. Games against the Moncton Hawks always seemed to go badly, with lots of fights and Majors, Match Majors and Game Misconducts always coming in the way of victory. The Wings left Glens Falls, NY many years ago, but that vague sense of unease has remained. I am happy to say that the Tireless Sedans have given me something positive to think of when I ponder Moncton. Their debut, Parts + Labour EP, is a pleasurable alt-country/rock mix with some quirky personality traits.

The musicality of Wilco is there, with the depth and jangle of Sloan, and a bit of unusual song construction ala Ed Robertson. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Rahmer is supported by a strong cast of fellow musicians. Mark McGinnis keeps it lively and thriving on skins and whatever else falls into his hands while Chad Lifford helps to nail down the rhythmic heart of the band. Jenna Gallant brings a vintage guitar sound to the band while kicking in some great background vocals. The EP opens with Old Home Town Pain, a song about returning home with the figurative tail between your legs, and finding out it perhaps wasn't as bad as you'd always thought, yet not what you'd hope. Alberta is a quirky whine set to a killer guitar riff about a relationship gone bad.

Stretch is aptly named. Thus far on Parts + Labour Tireless Sedans have shown strong musicianship and songwriting, but on Stretch Rahmer shows an ability to craft lyrics that are not only intelligent and clear but also subtle and profound. The chorus is perhaps a bit predictable, but the verses show some real creative spark as a word smith. Even The Sheep is a wonderfully quirky guitar oriented bit of Americana/Rock with an early Chicago-Style horn section thrown in. This is the most sonically interesting piece on the CD, playing around with progressive song construction and some interesting guitar fill work playing tag with the vocal line. Foreword serves as an instrumental introduction to Can't Move Forward, which has the energy and melody to be a Lo-Fi pop/country single.

Parts + Labour EP is a strong introduction to Tireless Sedans. Rahmer and crew show real promise as a band, crafting alt-country nuggets that will have you hitting re-play many times over. Between the strong musical lines and intelligent lyrics lay a spark of magic that is neither describable nor forgettable. They're not flashy, but Tireless Sedans will get inside your head.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Tireless Sedans at www.myspace.com/tirelesssedans or http://www.superbob.ca/. Parts + Labour does not appear to be currently available on line, so keep checking their Tireless Sedans’ MySpace page.

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2008: #2

The two best albums of the year, as reviewed by Wildy's World, are upon us. It's been a long trip (and a lot of reviews) to get here, but well worth the wait (and the work). Our #2 release is from one of our favorite songwriters. A guy who started out on the Indie Circuit in a band named after a 1970's TV show opening for the Barenaked Ladies, jumped to a major label, and ended up back on the Indie side of the fence.
#2 - Jason Plumb & The Willing - Beauty In This World

Beauty In This World is one of the first CDs we reviewed and remains one of our favorites. Jason Plumb has always had a penchant for writing these gorgeous songs, often with upbeat or sweet melodies and melancholy to depressing lyrics. Plumb raised his game on Beauty In This World from star quality to genius. This is the most sonically pleasing album of the year. This is the first album Plumb produced entirely on his own, and his DNA is in every note. It's been a long trip from his days with The Waltons, but Plumb has gotten better and better, just like fine wine. I don't believe he tours extensivelly anymore, and you're not likely to find a show outside of his native Canada, so his albums and the live clips on Youtube are probably your best bet to get to know Jason Plumb. Don't deny yourself the opportunity.