Stating the Understated.

Mark Ryden - Nurse Sue No. 65 (2006)

John Statz will introduce his lovely new folk album "Our Love Was Made For Canada" to a small group of friends and you tonight at Cafe Montmartre (9pm). Though the album's lyrics speak of plenty of heart-bursting country anecdotes, the words tend less to talk towards a conclusion and more to chew on their own meanings. The result is a tone that pairs exploration with reservation, which perfectly compliments John's raspy vocal hesitance. Despite gracefully-rolling acoustic phrasing, his worn voice sometimes gives up just a bit sooner than it technically should - joining all of us a half step down from proud. And we enjoy the company. This self-effacing humility bows deep in "Song and Dance Man", but is kept upbeat by an adventurous violin and soft by a gentle harmony. On the dusty "Can a Circle Be Unbroken" John grasps onto the collar of the note instead of hitting it and always manages to release it one second before holding it too close to his chest. He reacts similarly in the powerfully honest "Absentee" and just touches angry with the harshest guitar on "Useless". But on "Every Other Time", he makes the case that straightforward confrontation can be even more intimate than the overplayed sultry persuasion or emotional drippiness. Fittingly, the title track backpedals with a statement that seems to end in a slight question mark. Our Love Was Made For Canada? I can speak with less hesitance, this is a beautiful album.

John Statz - Absentee (mp3)