I’ve been sleeping fitfully most
of this week, and waking up with a sore back. My dream self must be getting
into all manner of adventure.
Last night I slept soundly for the
first time all week, but didn’t go to bed until 12:30, so that kind of negated
the experience. Strangely, I don’t feel that tired, but we’ll see how long I
last into the evening.
Disc 657 is…. Outskirts
Artist: Blue
Rodeo
Year of Release: 1987
What’s up with the Cover? A pretty basic band shot. These days a photo like
this is sent around to newspapers to print with their promo story so that the
album cover can have something obscure or artsy on it. Back in 1987 people just
wanted a picture of the band.
Greg Keelor is the only guy who
looks like a rock star, with his sunglasses and rakish lean. Jim Cuddy looks
like he’s wearing his high school sweetheart’s jean jacket and it’s too small
for him (- she’s supposed to wear your
jean jacket, dude). The rest of the guys look like they are suffering various
degrees of penury – given where their career ended up from here this would be
the last time they had any right to look like that.
How I Came To Know It: My lovely wife Sheila introduced me to both Blue
Rodeo and this album in particular. She had two or three Blue Rodeo albums when
I met her, and they were on heavy rotation in our early days. I’m very grateful
she got me to listen to this band, which has become one of my own favourites
over the years.
How It Stacks Up: We have thirteen Blue Rodeo albums, and there are a
lot of good ones. With all that steep competition, “Outskirts” could only
manage to land in eighth spot.
Rating: 3 stars overall, although with one 5 star song
“Outskirts”
is the album where Canadian legend Blue Rodeo got their start and like a lot of
debut albums at times it showcases the qualities that would make them great,
while also being a little rough around the edges in places.
The
record establishes their signature sound; roots/folk music with a rockabilly
edge. From the beginning, these guys parked their egos at the door, and
although co-vocalists and guitarists Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy are the stars,
there is lots of room for the other instruments to shine, most notably the amazing
Bobby Wiseman on keyboards.
It is
therefore fitting that the opening track of their opening album, “Heart Like Mine” begins with an a
capella harmony section, and then develops in a way that lets every band member
contribute their skills.
I’ve
known this album for a long time now and some of the songs have surprisingly grown
on me over the years. I used to genuinely dislike “Rose-Coloured Glasses,” finding Keelor’s vocals warbly and
affected. Since then I’ve come to appreciate what Keelor brings to a song, and “Rose Coloured Glasses” has become one of
my favourites. It is about a woman who always sees the positive, and her miserable
boyfriend (Keelor does misery like no other) who can’t seem to leave her.
“She sees the world through
rose-coloured glasses
Painted skies and graceful
romances
I see a world that’s tired and
scared
Of living on the edge too long
Where does she get off telling me
That love could save us all.”
I like
the way the lyrics express frustration, but with a tender and appreciative
undercurrent.
The
album’s ‘wow’ moment, however, belongs to Jim Cuddy and the five-star classic, “Try.” Coming near the end of the record
this song sneaks up and hits you like a bag of emotional bricks. From construction,
to melody to Cuddy’s voice – which has never been finer – this song is perfect.
Unlike “Rose-Coloured Glasses”
quoting lyrics from “Try” would be a
disservice to Cuddy’s performance. His soaring voice glides in and out of impossible
high notes like a seagull riding a summer wind of heart and hurt.
“Outskirts”
has some staunchly rockabilly numbers, but they aren’t the album’s best tracks.
I am keen for rockabilly right now, with my recent discovery of Irish singer
Imelda May, but these songs don’t work for me. “Joker’s Wild” has Keelor a bit too
out of control vocally even for him, and the chorus kind of tips itself off a
cliff with its own momentum.
“5 Will Get You Six” is strongly reminiscent
of early Elvis Costello songs like “Watching
the Detectives” but not as good. Also, why would you spell out ‘six’ and
then use the numeral ‘5’? It makes no sense!
In what
would become a tradition for almost all Blue Rodeo albums, Greg Keelor is given
at least two songs where he can meander aimlessly. On “Outskirts” these songs
are “Piranha Pool” (6:32) and “Floating” (7:32).
Both of
these songs should be half the length. In the case of “Piranha Pool” it would be as easy as removing the jazz odyssey
piano from the front and latter third (sorry Bobby). “Floating” is a harder fix; its meandering quality gives you nothing
to get hold of. It gives the feeling of floating well enough, but it needs more
of a current if it’s going to get you somewhere.
Still,
this is a good record and one that despite hearing many times over the years, I’m
still glad to put on for a spin. It also set the stage for the classic run of
records that would come in the years that followed, and started the legacy of a
band that continues to inspire and impress me.
Best tracks: Heart Like Mine, Rose-Coloured Glasses, Underground,
Try
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