CD Review

Title: Wondering Where The Rush Has Gone

Artist: James Murdoch Band

Label: Shameless Records Canada

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey (Toronto)

In 2007, James Murdoch released In Transit, which was co-produced with Canadian artist, Hawksley Workman. In Transit was nominated for 3 Western Canadian Music Awards in 2008. Mostly, it was just a refreshing and great album. Easy to listen to, easy to enjoy, it was a delightful treasure hidden among the rubble.

Following closely on the heels of In Transit, multi-award nominated Murdoch and his band have released their new album, Wondering Where the Rush Has Gone, released in July 2009 by Shameless Records Canada. Murdoch returns to the studio with his same laidback songs that are delicate, well orchestrated, have fantastic harmonies and seem to have that sparkle from In Transit.

Songs like “Building A Bridge” seem almost like Tom Petty in nature, while “Simple Lullaby” is catchy enough to be heard on any radio station. “Lovely Misdemeanours” is another soft and sophisticated soft rock ballad that is great to listen to.

“Gone So Far,” “Junebug,” and “Something We Do”, like much of the album seemed to head towards a distinctly country album with a little less of the edge of previous songs, and definitely less character than In Transit. On the other hand, the story ballad “Letters From Home” is quite fantastic, with Murdoch’s soft and slightly smokey voice.

Overall, after multiple listening of Wondering Where the Rush Has Gone, I found myself asking that same question as the album title. This album seems to lack the consistency and balance of In Transit — songs go from being very interesting to being background noise at a bar.

I am a big fan of James Murdoch and know after listening to In Transit he can develop a quality album, but found Wondering Where The Rush Has Gone to be without the fire and character previously heard in Murdoch’s work. Murdoch is talented, so I look forward to hearing what he has on the horizon.

Track Listing:

1. Building A Bridge
2. Simple Lullaby
3. Gone So Far
4. Junebug
5. Lovely Misdemeanours
6. Sometimes We Do
7. Return Renewed
8. Don’t Lay Down
9. John Wesley Jones
10. Letters From Home
11. Look No Further
12. Canadian Summer

Written by :

Kindah

 

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