CD Review

Title: Love & Other Messes

Artist: Ann Vriend

Label: Independent

Released: January 2011

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

Wordsmith, poet and storyteller Ann Vriend has come out with her fifth album Love & Other Messes. Easily one of Canada’s greatest unannounced singers, Vriend is what makes the music industry in this country so exceptional. Ann Vriend is one of those sublime Canadian artists that has built a successful career aside from the regular record label route. This means that Vriend is creating, producing and selling her own vision and much like Metric, has not lost her integrity in doing so. Now with that said, albums like Love & Other Messes should be vastly more mainstream than they end up being – Ron Sexsmith is living proof of that.

Aside from “Don’t Cry”, the third track on this album but previously found on the Modes of Transport album (and due for a welcome resurgence), this is all new and original content from Vriend. Although Vriend leans towards bluesy tracks, this album has a particular hint of her trips to Nashville with a hint of country mixed in. Of course “Everybody Sings In Nashville” is an obvious choice in this newer sound, but songs like “The Way You Let Me Down” or the great guitar solo in “More Or Less” have a leaning towards the country-style.

Standout tracks are “If You Were Here” which can only be described as lush, with a smooth vocal between Ann Vriend and Matt Epp that sounds just like a smooth dram of whisky feels going down your throat. “Possession Blues” is another clear hit with her walking back into well-known blues territory. I must admit this is my favourite way Vriend uses her voice, songs like “Where My Heart Lies” from her Modes of Transport album and “Possession Blues” sound like they would be well suited in a blues-club in the ‘20s or ‘30s. But then, the last track on the album “Somebody on the Ground” seems to defy gravity - just an outrageously, let-loose, inspiring, intelligent and sultry track with a hint of organ, that went to instant replay on my iPod.

Love & Other Messes is a well-polished album full of memorable tracks. A nice touch to this album are the little stories about the songs prior to the lyrics and credits in the liner notes. Like you find out the whimsical and playful song “Graffiti On My Heart (You Must Not Love)” was inspired by a “gypsy band play[ing] in a sweaty tent packed with other carnival performers and voyeurs.”

Vriend welcomes fellow musical talents Coco Love Acorn, Matt Epp, Dave Borins, onto her album, and the collaborations are both inspiring and beautiful at times.

Ann Vriend is as perennial as the sun, constantly reminding audiences of what exceptional talent Canadian music produces. Her voice is truly unique and her strengths as a pianist and lyricist means Vriend is the complete package.

On a side note, Vriend is fantastic in concert – a very, very, funny woman that tends to belt out her songs in between her most entertaining comedic intervals. Check out tour dates and where to buy the album here: http://www.annvriend.com

Track Listing:

1.  Everybody Sings In Nashville

2.  Best Thing

3.  Don’t Cry

4.  If You Were Here

5.  The Way You Let Me Down

6.  Excuses 1-8

7.  More Or Less

8.  Possession Blues

9.  Graffiti On My Heart

10. Tin Man

11. Long Distance Call

12. Somebody On The Ground

Written by :

Kindah