Ron Sexsmith — Retriever

Often heralded among Canada's best songwriters, one of Ron Sexsmith's main stumbling blocks has always been the similarity of his songs. Lack of variety isn't a problem when Sexsmith is feeling inspired — as with his first two albums — but when he gets in a rut (see albums three and four), his songs tend to snooze rather than soar. Sexsmith's last album, Cobblestone Runway, saw the songwriter perking up again and Retriever is a welcome extension of that vibe. While Sexsmith has written stronger songs than some on this disc, he's never been more upbeat or happier sounding. Retriever bursts with love songs, gentle social commentary and the appropriate touch of bittersweetness, all punctuated by Sexsmith's thoughtful writing style and tenderhearted voice. His record sales may not prove it (yet), but Retriever solidifies the fact that Sexsmith deserves every prop and bit of hyperbolic praise that's heaped upon him.

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