Ron Sexsmith
Exit Strategy Of The Soul
(Warner)
Ron Sexsmith is one of the country’s best songwriters—always flying under the radar of mass popularity, even though Dylan and Costello are professed fans. The singer’s often accused of being a sad sack, and Exit Strategy Of The Soul has its share of neurotic love-loss songs, like “Hard Time,” but Sexsmith’s piano, and a horn and percussion section recorded with Havana musicians, bring levity to lovely melodies and poetic lyrics. A real treat is “Brandy Alexander,” a song about a favourite beverage Sexsmith originally co-wrote with Feist (she sings back-up here). His version, like a late-night bar confession, delivers more personality.
—Sue Carter Flinn
categories: Canadian artist
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This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2008.