KICKIN' UP DUSTCATHERINE LEWANSIndie7-out-of-10
For those wise enough to have attended the Saskatchewan Country Music Association's songwriter's circle at the Yorkton ANAVETs Club recently, they will remember Catherine Lewans a country gal from southern Saskatchewan since she was one of the seven musicians taking part in the event. If you like country music it really was the place to be.
Lewans, whose hometown is Shaunavon, is a to-the-bone country girl. Her music leaves you feeling and believing this girl knows how to ride a horse, and what it means to do farm chores. Many can sing country, but fewer make it feel real by having lived it. Lewans is one of those.
In terms of song writing Lewans draws on two areas, both of them long a mainstay of country music, country life and her faith.
In Lewans case both seem rich places to draw from.
It is obvious Lewans draws on her faith in life. While not fully gospel, there are songs here which are at least influenced by songs which praise faith.
It is equally obvious Lewans can look out her window and see songs waiting to be written. She sees the simple things in life, the ones we tend to take for granted as the stuff of a song. She puts words to the simple joys of our lives.
The result is country which should resonate with anyone who had ever been a farmer/rancher. It should make you see a part of Saskatchewan.
This is a nice CD in that regard. It might not have 'hit' stamped on it, but it's still a disk which should make the listener smile.
Check her out at www.myspace.com/catherinelewans- CALVIN DANIELS
THIS IS THE LIERob MoirIndie6-out-of-10
Rob Moir is one of those artists who really gives a reviewer such as me headaches.
On one hand I can't honestly say his vocals do 'it' for me. The voice isn't one which exactly pleases my ear. That is the reality of reviewing. Sometimes a voice and a listening ear just don't jive.
Then we come to a song like A Love With No Past, and there is some older time country blues going on as an overlay to the song, and suddenly Moir hits a spot that works better for his vocals.
Let Me Down Easy has some '60s country blood too, and again suits the vocal qualities of this Toronto-based singer/songwriter better.
In terms of his own vision of music Moir said, "I love good song writing and artists that take chances, that's anyone from Neil Young to Frank Turner. I feel that my music is honest and sincere. My lyrics to me are funny is in this subtle way, and very tongue in cheek in a poetic way. I'd say fans of bands like
The Weakerthans or Whiskeytown would dig it."
The disk is only a five-song effort, so getting a complete feel for his music is a bit difficult. There are some samples here which suggest if Moir heads down a road leading to more of an old country-blues vein of music he will do well.
If he chooses to go more modern, the vocal style just doesn't work, at least for this listener.
You can of course decide that for yourself Feb. 10, when Moir will play live at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer in Yorkton.
You can also check him out at www.myspace.com/rdmoir- CALVIN DANIELS
Past reviews are archived online at http://calmardan.blogspot.com/
