CD: Three
Artist: Joel Plaskett
Label: New Scotland Records


Reviewed by Brian Golightly,
Host of Sunday Breakfast and Transition

Listen to samples from Three:
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Every Time You Leave
Through and Through and Through
New Scotland Blues

I'd leap off the couch and head across town at the promise of hearing just one new song from East Coast rocker and troubadour Joel Plaskett, and Three represents 27 such opportunities on three discs. Much like the charm of the man himself, the music's irresistible.

Three has a very different sound from the power trio completed by two grumpy guys known as the Emergency. The music here still includes Plaskett's astounding rock vocabulary, but goes beyond to folkier and sometimes almost prog-folk territory. Like all the better Maritime acts, the stuff is full of great hooks (a little fishing humour, there) and of course, the great Plaskett lines: "I'm tired of fighting and I'm tired of love, If I sound cold, put on some gloves" (from "New Scotland Blues").

The sounds you will hear include: Rose Cousins and Anna Egge singing, Dale Murray (of Cuff the Duke) playing sweet steel guitar, a brief appearance by the Emergency, and Joel's dad Bill is there too, with some guitar and bouzouki. Best of all, 27 new songs from Joel Plaskett, who is an undeniable Figure of Importance in Canadian music, and a really fun guy to hang out with, speaking as a listener. Anybody who's seen him live knows this. Feeling good is what it's all about, and it comes across in these recordings.