It’s no secret that music lovers are firmly divided over the catalog of Toronto’s Justin Rutledge. For every fan of his poetic lyrics, slow burning melodies and wide open arrangements, there is someone writing off his work as boring and beige. I’m firmly entrenched in the former camp, but with the release of The Early Widows, Rutledge seems determined to smash down that dividing wall once and for all and finally win over the hearts of his critics.

 

Last time out, Rutledge recorded with friend after friend, offering a different sound and emotion on each of Man Descending‘s tracks. The result, in my opinion, were at times inspired and always beautiful, but the scope of the poject certainly left Justin in an awkward position. Returning to a more stripped down, singular point-of-view would leave listeners flat, and seem like a regression no matter how well put together the songs might be..

 

By letting Hawksley Workman twiddle the nobs and help form the songs, Rutledge surprised everyone as he was given a new palette from which to paint. Electric guitar, distortion and epic surges; these aren’t words you associate with the young TO song writer but they work perfectly on Early Widows. Even an expected addition – like the pedal steel on Carry On – takes new form. Instead of tear in your beer melancholy, Rutledge drifts into a simplified, psychedelic space out which is a delightful contrast to the two feet on the ground folk/roots we’ve come to expect from him.

 

Rutledge still writes flowing, poetic lyrics (with help from Michael Ondaatje) that could as easily be cased by a hardcover spine as a guitar melody, but the added muscle forces you to pay attention. Hawksley deserves credit for pushing Rutledge out of his comfort zone and from the opening moments of Be A Man, you are hit with an immediacy that even the biggest Rutledge fan would admit was missing in previous efforts. The crescendo of strings and backing choral vocals surge forward with an unrelenting force, but even on slow burners like Islands, strings and computer effects dance around your headphones giving the song a focal point other than his words.

 

The most exciting thing about Early Widows is that it will change how people think of Rutledge and give people the patience to revisit his catalog with an open mind. As he effortlessly delivers rockers (The Heart of a River) and anthems (if you don’t get swept up by the spirited backing choir on Ms. Montgomery) you are more willing to listen to each and every word he sings, which as always, are moving and powerful. It makes you hear a song like I Have Not Seen The Light , one of the few that could have found a home on his previous records, and realize that even with just a few simple strums, Rutledge is an engaging entertainer that deserves your time.

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MP3:: Justen Rutledge – Be A Man

WEB:: http://www.justinrutledge.com/