Ellen Froese & Campbell Woods/The Real McKenzies
Ellen Froese and Campbell Woods
Farm Boy Sings The Blues // Independent
I don’t remember much before age 5, but one memory that’s especially detailed and ripe with emotion is visiting my great-grandfather in his care home; he was a tiny man with a missing leg (due to a farming accident), but to me and my sister, his singing voice and wheelchair made him the sweetest one-man- travelling-band. My mother would take us to visit, and with the sun beaming in through the window reflecting off his chrome wheelchair into my eyes, he sparkled as he sang us songs like “You Are My Sunshine” and “Yellow Bird”. I would hate to make this review about myself, however, it is almost inexplicable how Farm Boy Sings The Blues by Ellen Froese and Campbell woods has transported me back to this memory; it’s so close I can almost smell it and feel the warmth on my skin. Through its gorgeous simplicity, this album is powerfully nostalgic, possessing the ability to transport you to a warm, sunny memory.
As cheeky as it is wise, and just as light as it is grounding, this 10-track album is full of steady harmonies, reverberating acoustic guitars that diffuse into every corner of the soundscape, and quippy lyrics that prompt crooked smiles. The first song, “Golden Sun”, leads us out into a bright prairie field that seems to go on forever, setting the tone for a warm, dreamy album. But, don’t let this warmth drift you into slumber, because cowboys need to be ready to “follow that golden sun where inspiration leads”. Ellen’s voice is an unexpected treat; where you may anticipate a soft, gentle voice to accompany these warm tunes, Ellen’s vibrato and willingness to throw her voice from the highs to the lows and right back up again is quite enchanting. As with her solo projects, she is not afraid to use vocal theatrics and integrate perhaps operatic techniques to really tell the story.
Following the same path of unexpected vocals, this folk/blues album isn’t afraid to stray from the typical chord progressions of the genres; through the second track, “In The Sun”, we expect a typical 4-chord progression, but Ellen and Campbell are stronger writers than that, keeping listeners engaged with chords that add a natural crescendo to the narrative.
I’m sure an argument could be made for every track being the best on the album, however “Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul” stands out as one of their most musically creative. The dissonant harmonies that pop up periodically portray an uncomfortable or unsettled longing, but the chorus quickly jumps to a very familiar and structured bubbly line: “listening to soul music, rock ‘n’ roll music alone with him, alone with him”. The song feels both wildly unsettling and effortlessly comforting at the same time.
Campbell’s voice shines on “Rosemont”, in all the exact ways you want a folk voice to shine. In fact, this whole album is exactly as you want folk songwriting to be, familiar enough that you can easily recognize the prairie plains from whence it was birthed, and new enough to add relevance to your entire journey across them, or even into the big city. The music Ellen and Campbell have created is an instant classic in the Canadian folk scene, and new standard for folk musicians to aspire to. As the album finishes with “Wrong Choice” we are left singing the blues under the blue sky.
I think my great-grandfather would have sung me a song from this album. He may have even brought out his fiddle and played along. I would have felt warm, as I do now. I’m sure of it.
- Lana Winterhalt
The Real McKenzies
Beer & Loathing // Stomp Records
It’s my pleasure and an absolute honour to review the new album, Beer & Loathing, by The Real McKenzies. If you haven’t heard of them you might of been living off the grid since ‘92, self isolating during covid, or just living under a rock. Oh The Real McKenzies I humbly bow and say “Please find my review worthy and acceptable my Lords.”
Paul McKenzie’s poetic grandeur is so very inspiring to me, a fellow poet. And the band?! They won my heart with the raunchy guitars, pounding drums, and did I mention the bagpipes? I have a thing for bagpipes, they make me cry, give me goosebumps, get me ready to fight, and get me feeling a little randy. The album knocked more than my socks off! Ya I said it!! Or is that too taboo to say?
I also want to provide a brief history....
From Vancouver, British Columbia, The Real McKenzies have been playing together almost 30yrs. This being their 11th album released to date. They’re with the Ska/Punk label Stomp Records out of Montreal. Also for the record... they’ve been around longer than Drop Kick Murphy’s and Flogging Molly and If you wanna fight me over this... Let’s Go!
Beer and Loathing starts off with the sweet haunting sound of those bagpipes to get you standing at attention with “A Widow’s Watch”.
”Big Foot Steps” is a smashing great song full of fire. The kind of song you want to sing along to. They’ve released a wicked video for this track about a day in the life of Bigfoot as he comes across challenges of human interference with his natural habitat. Ya he’s pissed! So pissed he pisses off an overpass onto the freeway. I think it has huge lyrical significance in conjunction with the video. True to The Real McKenzies style of storytelling, is this a plea to the youth? Words of wisdom saying: “don’t follow in my in my footsteps, don’t damage the earth as we’re done.” Bigfoot’s is saying “I just wanna be left alone! Stop fucking with my home!”
”Beer and Loathing” and “Nary Do Gooder” are fast, furious, and fiery drinking songs for those of you who crave those Real McKenzies beer drinking anthems. Paul just tells it like it is. If you think you can out drink him your sadly mistaken He’d drink you under the table anyday and then mop the floor with ya. Don’t try him!
Just when you thought it couldn’t get rowdier ....it gets harder and faster with “Death of the Winnipeg Scene” and “36 Barrels”. I really got into these ones for the sweet raw guitar riffs and a good ol’ fast punk rock drum beats that always tickle my fancy.
Now for the song that had me singing and moshing up a storm in my kitchen. “The Cremation of Sam McGee” is a classic Yukon story by Robert W. Service. Kind of a dark morbid story but it’s my favourite. Now to hear this tale told and put to music by The Real McKenzies is nothing short of unbelievably wicked and awesome!!! I think they honoured Robert W. Service like no one else could. I also used to live in the Yukon so this song is extra special to me. There is nothing more beautiful and dangerous than the Yukon. Some call it God’s country because it’s nothing short of breathtaking. It leaves you speechless and wanting to go back. There is mystery and magic in the land of the Midnight Sun.... I’ve experienced it myself and a piece of my heart remains there. I thank you for doing this song guys!
Beer & Loathing is definitely right up my kilt and in my list of favourites of 2020. I didn’t full out cry in my beer, but I came close. Raw energy and emotion behind the lyrics and music. So please raise your glass for a toast to The Real McKenzies for the best beer drinking, storytelling, loving, and fighting songs that I’ve heard this side of the country. Thank you for Beer & Loathing and for brightening up my covid summer BIG TIME! Cheers!!
Be good to each other!
Love Always,
Green Noreen
