If only this was an album about Ellsworth Kelly and not an album by Dennis Ellsworth I would probably have enjoyed it a lot more. As it is, the line that jumps out from the press release is that "His vocals are as good as anyone's and better than most." To which I can only say "Yeah Right" as Dennis is no Sinatra or Placido Domingo or Mick Jagger or even R. Kelly. Yes he can sing well enough, but he is nothing exceptional and neither is Hazy Sunshine.
Instead it is meek and mild totally forgettable bland slightly folky pop Americana (or should that be Canadiana?) aimed at the mainstream and I'm guessing middle class Canadians with office jobs. It's as dull as filing paperwork all day long and no matter how well played it is that doesn't stop the boredom creeping in somewhere about halfway through Coke Machine Glow, and that's only the second song on the album. Oh and the title is by far the most interesting thing about the song too.
The best thing about If I Find The Truth (apart from hoping that he's left out in the rain for hours on end) are the strings that come in about halfway through the song and are rather beautiful. As for the title track, if that's the best drug tune he can come up with he needs to take more drugs not quit them. Again, it's almost redeemed by the strings and some cool slow piano playing. But only almost.
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This album follows the current trend for tribute songs to other singers and in this case it's by far the best thing on the album; a great tribute to Harry Nilsson's Heart. If only the rest of the album sounded as good as this it would be really cool. But as it is this is the only song you would have any need to listen to more than once.
Silver Tears, by contrast, seems to go on forever and is perfect fare for sending most listeners to sleep. Will the last two songs wake you up? Well maybe but not too sure as they are forgettable wallpaper folk-rock of the wimpiest kind.
The most enjoyable thing about this album for me was pressing the eject button when it finished! This is one bland and boring album and while it's nice the Canadian Government helped fund this album I'm not certain it was a great use of Canadian Tax payers money. Still, better than buying guns or bombs with the money.
Dennis Ellsworth online
Busted Flat Records online
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