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Ron Sexsmith: Exit Strategy Of The Soul |
Contributed By: The Messiah
Created On: Friday, 11 July 2008
Hits: 123
 Exit Strategy Of The Soul Delving deep into Cuban music, Sexsmith recruited legendary Cuban musicians Amaury Perez and Alexander Abreu as well as experienced arranger Joaquin Betancourt to lend latin punch and style to his sweeping, yearnful melodies. Also appearing on Exit Strategy of the Soul is standout track 'Brandy Alexander,' co-written with fellow Canadian singer-songwriter Feist. After the two met at a party where Ron was drinking the concoction, the two entered into a long-distance collaboration with both artists eventually recording their own version of the song for their respective albums. In the career of Ron Sexsmith Exit Strategy of the Soul is at once a culmination and a precipice, a work that feels as complete as it does an artistic jumping-off point. Only the mind of the artist knows his intention and knowing Sexsmith, he's not telling.
The songs give you pretty much what you expect from a Ron Sexsmith album – namely, lyrics that manage to be both downbeat and optimistic, paired with beautiful, instantly memorable melodies. The album as a whole is slightly more up-tempo than much of Sexsmith’s previous work – even the slower tracks, like “Traveling Alone,” have beats you can tap along to – but all this really means is that the record neither speeds up nor drags; it simply maintains a steady, even pace, which may very well mean that you find yourself listening to it on repeat for the better part of a day without noticing how many times you’ve been through it. Tricky guy, that Sexsmith.
Will any of this help change his status as one of pop’s better-kept secrets? Not a chance – but given that Yep Roc has made a go of it with Nick Lowe, Robert Forster, Robyn Hitchcock, and Paul Weller, maybe Sexsmith has finally found a long-term label home. If you’ve got a weakness for smart, grown-up pop music, and you’ve somehow avoided getting acquainted with Ron Sexsmith until now, Exit Strategy of the Soul makes for an excellent jumping-in point. And if you’re already a fan, just pour yourself a Brandy Alexander and unplug the phone. You’re going to want to sink in and avoid any distractions for a while.
 
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