For his fourth studio album,
Ron Sexsmith abandoned the increasingly baroque textures of
Mitchell Froom and
Tchad Blake's keyboard-dominated production to work with producer and fellow world-class songwriter
Steve Earle (along with
Earle's usual studio partner,
Ray Kennedy). But if you're expecting the results to be a straightforward singer/songwriter affair, think again -- Blueboy is a stylistically diverse, sonically full-bodied affair, and while it's hardly a full-on rock record, it's certainly
Sexsmith's most immediate and forceful set to date. Between the soul horns on "This Song," the reggae accents of "Never Been Done," and the cool jazz arrangement on "Foolproof,"
Earle's production brings a variety of different flavors to these songs, and while most fall into a smart pop mode not unlike
Sexsmith's earlier work, the album's subtle but inventive textures draw the listener's focus into the songs, rather than the arrangements.
Earle and
Kennedy have also done a fine job capturing the nuances of
Sexsmith's vocals, which boast a greater depth than on most of his earlier outings in the studio. But the best reason to listen to a
Ron Sexsmith album is always his songs, and Blueboy offers another 14 pieces of evidence that this man ranks among the most gifted singer/songwriters working today. Balancing a youthful charm with a strikingly mature perspective,
Sexsmith sings about the stuff of ordinary people -- life, love, and fate -- with a perceptive intelligence, emotional depth, and subtle and compassionate wit that's truly one of a kind. Anyone who has heard his work knows that
Ron Sexsmith is a superb songwriter, and Blueboy suggests he's learned how to make records just as strong as his material. ~ Mark Deming