Monday, March 1, 2010

Reviews:: Greg MacPherson Mr. Invitation

For artists like Marc Morrisette, travel tales are often delivered in a hushed fashion, heavy on introspective analysis as they try to figure out what their place in the world really is. The free time and solitude that makes up a denizen's day often dictates the end result of their art.

Winnipeg native Greg MacPherson goes the other route. The opening single to his new record - Mr. Invitation - explodes into a muscular riff that heightens the intensity of his voyages. He reminds us about those first few exciting days of a trip when everything seems new, not the days that blend together as you wait for trains or fill long days by sitting in hostels or cafes.

The quick moving guitar really sets the tone for MacPherson's first record in over 4 years, one that focuses on bringing studio songs to the same excitement as his live sets. The charging pace of Backflow and Outside Edge are perfect examples. Instead of crafting stories that are best consumed alone, through headphones, MacPherson is determined to fine tune his sound to transform every moment to the heights of a live rock show. Even the personal, slow burners like and Visitor sear with an intensity that you associate with time tested narrators like Steve Earle and show MacPherson unafraid of displaying the confidence to write songs that speak to and for us all, not just for himself.

Mr. Invitation drops on March 30th, and I highly recommend you give the record the time it deserves.