John Southworth — Mama Tevatron

Mama Tevatron

Dead Daisy

Scott Bryson (CHARTattack)

10/15/2009 11:42am

John Southworth was poised for widespread success 10 years ago, but Hawksley Workman swooped in and claimed a sizable chunk of his potential fan base.

Sure, Workman's For Him And The Girls debut was a great disc, but Southworth's Banff Springs Transylvania, released around the same time, was just as off-kilter and just as charming.

The two musicians' paths diverged significantly at that point. Workman ran with his sudden overexposure and made five mostly horrible records while somehow managing to become a beloved Canadian icon. Southworth continued making music as well, but found himself farther and farther from the spotlight in Canada while being heralded by critics south of the border and in the U.K.

Southworth is a little less kooky these days, but he's still making powerful — and paradoxically understated — pop songs. Mama Tevatron is significantly focused compared to his usual fare. Thanks to some vintage, horror movie-like keyboards, most of its tracks are built upon a creepy, sinister foundation. Lyrically, Southworth definitely mined the darker recesses of his brain for this sixth full-length.

Mama Tevatron isn't the sort of pop disc that'll smack you in the face with fabulousness — Southworth's charms are subtle. It'll likely take quite a few spins before Mama Tevatron becomes a favourite.

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