Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3.5/5 Released: May 22, 2007 Reviewer: Trent Depue |
Just a short two months after the release of the teaser EP December 5, singer/songwriter Wil’s sophomore full length album By December has hit the airwaves. Coming a full six years after his debut Both Hands, one could question whether or not he would still be riding the momentum that that album’s three Western Canadian Music Award nominations created. It doesn’t take long to realize he hasn’t missed a beat.
Setting aside his admitted opposition to co-writing by sitting down with 54-40’s Neil Osborne and Broken Social Scene’s Jason Collett, among others, to produce the albums two standout lyrical triumphs ‘Big Life’ and ‘The Way I Used To,’ is an immediate sign of his artistic growth. And as was the case with the EP, this album is characterized by Wil’s commanding vocal presence, which makes up for any musical energy missing from some songs, such as ‘Rain On,’ perhaps his strongest vocal piece, and further enhances those that already possess that musical punch, most notably the elaborate ‘Help’ with its wonderful trumpet accompaniment.
Though By December may seem to have been long overdue, Wil’s effort has proven to be well worth the wait and will certainly serve to keep his fans hoping that it doesn’t take another six years for his next release.
