Justin Rutledge — The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park

With friends in high places and an obvious knack for penning quality, countrified folk tunes, it's a wonder that Justin Rutledge has yet to reach a larger audience. Perhaps that will change with The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park, a 10-track exercise in sorrow and restraint. Featuring contributions from Melissa McClelland, Oh Susanna and a selection of dudes from Blue Rodeo, the record works well as a period piece, showcasing some of this country's finest roots rockers against the backdrop of Rutledge's often-dramatic song stylings. Listening to "The Suffering Of Pepe O'Malley (Pt. IV)," you can't help but recall the scope and feel of a majestic western film, or at least stereotypical iconography like stagecoaches, sagebrush and gringos in tight jeans. All the while, Rutledge sounds positively placid, providing easygoing vocals that seldom rise above a staged whisper.

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