Categories : Jazz + Blues, Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 4/5 Released: September 19, 2006 Reviewer: Trent Depue |
Forming ten years ago for a Willie P. Bennett tribute album, Canadian singer-songwriters Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson have turned Blackie & The Rodeo Kings from a single album band into a Juno award winning staple in Canadian roots music. And now on their fourth release, BARK has, for the first time, not included any Bennett covers on the track listing. Instead they have chosen to rely almost entirely on their own songwriting talents, and in doing so, shine once again on Let’s Frolic.
With over thirty records released between them (not to mention the dozens produced by Linden), it is clear there is no shortage of talent and experience between these three musicians. This, coupled with the contrast gained from their diverse musical backgrounds, makes for fourteen tracks of grade-A material, each of which has something positive to be said about it. Lindens superlative slide guitar and Dobro work are the driving forces on multiple songs, including his exciting and inspiring ‘Life is Golden.’ Fearing is at his best on ‘The Fool Who Can’t Forget,’ on which Pam Tillis provides aptly described “heavenly harmonies,†while Tom Wilson is most memorable for his vocal contributions, particularly on the albums opening track ‘Silver Dreams.’
Since the band’s inception they have managed to constantly improve from one album to the next, and although it may be a stretch to say that Let’s Frolic betters its predecessor, Bark, it at least equals it. Drawing from each others strengths, their mutual love of music and a clear respect for each other, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings have created a definite highlight in Canadian music for 2006.
Buy Let’s Frolic from iTunes >> 
