Ron Sexsmith & The Uncool — Grand Opera Lane (1991) |
Ron Sexsmith & The Uncool — Grand Opera Lane
Birth name: Ronald Eldon Sexsmith
Born: January 8, 1964
Location: St. Catharines ~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Album release: 1991
Record Label: self-released // Warner Canada/Ronboy Rhymes/Cooking Vinyl
Duration: 38:07
Tracks:
01. In This Love (4:00)
02. Spending Money (3:46)
03. Don't Mind Losing (3:19)
04. Tell You (2:48)
05. Gonna Get What's Mine (3:53)
06. Speaking With The Angel (3:30)
07. Every Word Of It (3:30)
08. Some People (3:34)
09. Trains (3:39)
10. Savin' Her Love (3:18)
11. The Laughing Crowd (2:50)
CREDITS:
≡ Colleen Allen Saxophone
≡ Ron Allen Flute, Saxophone
≡ Anne Bourne Cello
≡ Steve Charles Bass, Piano, Vocals
≡ John Gzowski Guitar
≡ Greg Keelor Guitar
≡ Don Kerr Drums, Percussion, Vocals
≡ Sarah McElcheran Trumpet
≡ Kim Ratcliffe Guitar
≡ Ron Sexsmith Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals
≡ Bob Wiseman Composer, Engineer, Harmonica, Organ, Producer, Vocals
Website: http://www.ronsexsmith.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ronsexsmith
Notes:
≡ Recorded At Jay's Space Station, Toronto
≡ Originally released independently on cassette in 1991 with his backing band, the Uncool, this is Ron Sexsmith's re-released debut album on CD.
Description:
≡ "Released independently with his backing band, the Uncool, Ron Sexsmith's re-released debut album is a bit more of a rock effort than the pop-folk albums he later created. "In This Love" has a definitive acoustic or alternative country tinge to it in the vein of Blue Rodeo. Backed by Don Kerr and Steve Charles on harmony vocals, the tune has a soulful touch to it despite Sexsmith at times over-exerting his vocals during the bridge. Equally vital is the horn section, providing a Dave Matthews quality to the proceedings. "Spending Money" is a funky pop track showcasing the musician's simple yet descriptive narratives. The arrangement is a bit simplistic, though. One trait that is shown early on is Sexsmith's consistent soulful delivery, like a latter-day Motown album. "Don't Mind Losing" moves toward the country-soul party music of the Mavericks, featuring more horns. "Tell You" is perhaps the album's shining moment, a lovable acoustic track that adds harmonies before Bob Wiseman's organ kicks in. "Gonna Get What's Mine" is a blending of rockabilly and bluegrass with mixed results at best. Also included on the album is the original recording of "Speaking With the Angels," a track later issued on Sexsmith's 1995 self-titled album. ≡ Although similar in its tone, the singer opts for more of a Bob Dylan style in his delivery. The relaxing country touches on "Every Word of It" are the seeds of future projects, despite the music's tone. "Trains" is another shining moment, a sparse number featuring just acoustic guitar and Sexsmith's fragile singer/songwriter voice. It all ends with "The Laughing Crowd," another hint at what was to come in future albums that is standard melodic pop in under three minutes."
In french:
≡ Le premier album autoproduit de Ron Sexsmith et réalisé sur une cassette. Il s'agit ici du rip de la "reissue" sur CD.
≡ Avec cet album, la discographie de Ron Sexsmith est enfin entièrement disponible sur ce blog. ≡ Tous les liens ont étés vérifiés et actualisés, la qualité d'encodage améliorée pour plusieurs d'entre eux. Pour les trouver, un clic sur le tag "Ron Sexmith" vous permet d'accéder à chacun des 13 posts concernant cet excellent singer songwriter canadien.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Review by Jason MacNeil (Editor rating: ***)
≡ Released independently with his backing band, the Uncool, Ron Sexsmith's re-released debut album is a bit more of a rock effort than the pop-folk albums he later created. "In This Love" has a definitive acoustic or alternative country tinge to it in the vein of Blue Rodeo. Backed by Don Kerr and Steve Charles on harmony vocals, the tune has a soulful touch to it despite Sexsmith at times over-exerting his vocals during the bridge. Equally vital is the horn section, providing a Dave Matthews quality to the proceedings. "Spending Money" is a funky pop track showcasing the musician's simple yet descriptive narratives. The arrangement is a bit simplistic, though. One trait that is shown early on is Sexsmith's consistent soulful delivery, like a latter-day Motown album. "Don't Mind Losing" moves toward the country-soul party music of the Mavericks, featuring more horns. "Tell You" is perhaps the album's shining moment, a lovable acoustic track that adds harmonies before Bob Wiseman's organ kicks in. "Gonna Get What's Mine" is a blending of rockabilly and bluegrass with mixed results at best. Also included on the album is the original recording of "Speaking With the Angels," a track later issued on Sexsmith's 1995 self-titled album. ≡ Although similar in its tone, the singer opts for more of a Bob Dylan style in his delivery. The relaxing country touches on "Every Word of It" are the seeds of future projects, despite the music's tone. "Trains" is another shining moment, a sparse number featuring just acoustic guitar and Sexsmith's fragile singer/songwriter voice. It all ends with "The Laughing Crowd," another hint at what was to come in future albums that is standard melodic pop in under three minutes.
Discography:
≡ 1991: Grand Opera Lane (independent, produced by Bob Wiseman, with The Uncool)
≡ 1995: Ron Sexsmith (Interscope/Warner, produced by Mitchell Froom ("There's a Rhythm" produced by Daniel Lanois)
≡ 1997: Other Songs (Interscope/Warner)
≡ 1999: Whereabouts (Interscope/Warner)
≡ 2001: Blue Boy (produced by Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy)
≡ 2002: Cobblestone Runway (produced by Martin Terefe)
≡ 2003: Rarities
≡ 2004: Retriever (Warner)
≡ 2005: Destination Unknown (V2, with Don Kerr, released as Sexsmith & Kerr)
≡ 2006: Time Being (Warner, also released in 2007 by Coppertree Records UK on 180g vinyl)
≡ 2008: Exit Strategy of the Soul (Yep Roc)
≡ 2011: Long Player Late Bloomer (Thirty Tigers/Cooking Vinyl)
≡ 2013: Forever Endeavour (Cooking Vinyl)
Style:
≡ His first five albums are generally melancholic pop folk with elegant melodies, accentuated use of guitars and economic application of other instruments. On his sixth album, Cobblestone Runway, producer Martin Terefe supplemented this style with, among other things, synthesizers, back-up singers, gospel choirs, and string sections. Retriever is considered his most pop-influenced album.
≡ He has said, "...my main objective is to try and stay out of the way of the song. I want to write songs that are good whether I'm singing them or not."
Success:
≡ In a July 1999 interview, a Triste Magazine contributor said the following: "Every record seems to get great reviews, but then your sales don't ever really match." Sexsmith responded,
“ It does get frustrating. Every record you make you think there's another chance to bat and you're always striking out. So it is frustrating. I don't want to be like Nick Drake and Tim Hardin. They never really had much success in their [lives]. ... All my heroes had big hits and success. I see progress in the way it's building, but it is not in the way the general public can detect. ... It's out of my hands. I'm a 35-year-old guy from Canada and I don't write groove-oriented music. So, I can't expect too much."
Interview by Triste: http://www.triste.co.uk/sexsmith.htm
© Derek Shapton
Ron Sexsmith & The Uncool — Grand Opera Lane (1991) |
Ron Sexsmith & The Uncool — Grand Opera Lane
Birth name: Ronald Eldon Sexsmith
Born: January 8, 1964
Location: St. Catharines ~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Album release: 1991
Record Label: self-released // Warner Canada/Ronboy Rhymes/Cooking Vinyl
Duration: 38:07
Tracks:
01. In This Love (4:00)
02. Spending Money (3:46)
03. Don't Mind Losing (3:19)
04. Tell You (2:48)
05. Gonna Get What's Mine (3:53)
06. Speaking With The Angel (3:30)
07. Every Word Of It (3:30)
08. Some People (3:34)
09. Trains (3:39)
10. Savin' Her Love (3:18)
11. The Laughing Crowd (2:50)
CREDITS:
≡ Colleen Allen Saxophone
≡ Ron Allen Flute, Saxophone
≡ Anne Bourne Cello
≡ Steve Charles Bass, Piano, Vocals
≡ John Gzowski Guitar
≡ Greg Keelor Guitar
≡ Don Kerr Drums, Percussion, Vocals
≡ Sarah McElcheran Trumpet
≡ Kim Ratcliffe Guitar
≡ Ron Sexsmith Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals
≡ Bob Wiseman Composer, Engineer, Harmonica, Organ, Producer, Vocals
Website: http://www.ronsexsmith.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ronsexsmith
Notes:
≡ Recorded At Jay's Space Station, Toronto
≡ Originally released independently on cassette in 1991 with his backing band, the Uncool, this is Ron Sexsmith's re-released debut album on CD.
Description:
≡ "Released independently with his backing band, the Uncool, Ron Sexsmith's re-released debut album is a bit more of a rock effort than the pop-folk albums he later created. "In This Love" has a definitive acoustic or alternative country tinge to it in the vein of Blue Rodeo. Backed by Don Kerr and Steve Charles on harmony vocals, the tune has a soulful touch to it despite Sexsmith at times over-exerting his vocals during the bridge. Equally vital is the horn section, providing a Dave Matthews quality to the proceedings. "Spending Money" is a funky pop track showcasing the musician's simple yet descriptive narratives. The arrangement is a bit simplistic, though. One trait that is shown early on is Sexsmith's consistent soulful delivery, like a latter-day Motown album. "Don't Mind Losing" moves toward the country-soul party music of the Mavericks, featuring more horns. "Tell You" is perhaps the album's shining moment, a lovable acoustic track that adds harmonies before Bob Wiseman's organ kicks in. "Gonna Get What's Mine" is a blending of rockabilly and bluegrass with mixed results at best. Also included on the album is the original recording of "Speaking With the Angels," a track later issued on Sexsmith's 1995 self-titled album. ≡ Although similar in its tone, the singer opts for more of a Bob Dylan style in his delivery. The relaxing country touches on "Every Word of It" are the seeds of future projects, despite the music's tone. "Trains" is another shining moment, a sparse number featuring just acoustic guitar and Sexsmith's fragile singer/songwriter voice. It all ends with "The Laughing Crowd," another hint at what was to come in future albums that is standard melodic pop in under three minutes."
In french:
≡ Le premier album autoproduit de Ron Sexsmith et réalisé sur une cassette. Il s'agit ici du rip de la "reissue" sur CD.
≡ Avec cet album, la discographie de Ron Sexsmith est enfin entièrement disponible sur ce blog. ≡ Tous les liens ont étés vérifiés et actualisés, la qualité d'encodage améliorée pour plusieurs d'entre eux. Pour les trouver, un clic sur le tag "Ron Sexmith" vous permet d'accéder à chacun des 13 posts concernant cet excellent singer songwriter canadien.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Review by Jason MacNeil (Editor rating: ***)
≡ Released independently with his backing band, the Uncool, Ron Sexsmith's re-released debut album is a bit more of a rock effort than the pop-folk albums he later created. "In This Love" has a definitive acoustic or alternative country tinge to it in the vein of Blue Rodeo. Backed by Don Kerr and Steve Charles on harmony vocals, the tune has a soulful touch to it despite Sexsmith at times over-exerting his vocals during the bridge. Equally vital is the horn section, providing a Dave Matthews quality to the proceedings. "Spending Money" is a funky pop track showcasing the musician's simple yet descriptive narratives. The arrangement is a bit simplistic, though. One trait that is shown early on is Sexsmith's consistent soulful delivery, like a latter-day Motown album. "Don't Mind Losing" moves toward the country-soul party music of the Mavericks, featuring more horns. "Tell You" is perhaps the album's shining moment, a lovable acoustic track that adds harmonies before Bob Wiseman's organ kicks in. "Gonna Get What's Mine" is a blending of rockabilly and bluegrass with mixed results at best. Also included on the album is the original recording of "Speaking With the Angels," a track later issued on Sexsmith's 1995 self-titled album. ≡ Although similar in its tone, the singer opts for more of a Bob Dylan style in his delivery. The relaxing country touches on "Every Word of It" are the seeds of future projects, despite the music's tone. "Trains" is another shining moment, a sparse number featuring just acoustic guitar and Sexsmith's fragile singer/songwriter voice. It all ends with "The Laughing Crowd," another hint at what was to come in future albums that is standard melodic pop in under three minutes.
Discography:
≡ 1991: Grand Opera Lane (independent, produced by Bob Wiseman, with The Uncool)
≡ 1995: Ron Sexsmith (Interscope/Warner, produced by Mitchell Froom ("There's a Rhythm" produced by Daniel Lanois)
≡ 1997: Other Songs (Interscope/Warner)
≡ 1999: Whereabouts (Interscope/Warner)
≡ 2001: Blue Boy (produced by Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy)
≡ 2002: Cobblestone Runway (produced by Martin Terefe)
≡ 2003: Rarities
≡ 2004: Retriever (Warner)
≡ 2005: Destination Unknown (V2, with Don Kerr, released as Sexsmith & Kerr)
≡ 2006: Time Being (Warner, also released in 2007 by Coppertree Records UK on 180g vinyl)
≡ 2008: Exit Strategy of the Soul (Yep Roc)
≡ 2011: Long Player Late Bloomer (Thirty Tigers/Cooking Vinyl)
≡ 2013: Forever Endeavour (Cooking Vinyl)
Style:
≡ His first five albums are generally melancholic pop folk with elegant melodies, accentuated use of guitars and economic application of other instruments. On his sixth album, Cobblestone Runway, producer Martin Terefe supplemented this style with, among other things, synthesizers, back-up singers, gospel choirs, and string sections. Retriever is considered his most pop-influenced album.
≡ He has said, "...my main objective is to try and stay out of the way of the song. I want to write songs that are good whether I'm singing them or not."
Success:
≡ In a July 1999 interview, a Triste Magazine contributor said the following: "Every record seems to get great reviews, but then your sales don't ever really match." Sexsmith responded,
“ It does get frustrating. Every record you make you think there's another chance to bat and you're always striking out. So it is frustrating. I don't want to be like Nick Drake and Tim Hardin. They never really had much success in their [lives]. ... All my heroes had big hits and success. I see progress in the way it's building, but it is not in the way the general public can detect. ... It's out of my hands. I'm a 35-year-old guy from Canada and I don't write groove-oriented music. So, I can't expect too much."
Interview by Triste: http://www.triste.co.uk/sexsmith.htm
© Derek Shapton