This blog post looks at two of our favorite acoustic artists: Ron Sexsmith who has a new album out and…Jay-Z? Find out what they have in common besides Folk101 as a fan.
Canadian crooner Ron Sexsmith is a bit of a throwback. He has been called the “songwriter’s songwriter,” and his work is frequently praised by the likes of Elton John and Paul McCartney. Not back for a fan list, huh?
Despite the praise, his music has never achieved mainstream success. In a recent interview with NPR, he talks about how strange it is that he will attend black-tie, red-carpet awards shows and then go back to his rented apartment in Toronto. The interview is fascinating, and we recommend you check it out.
Mr. Sexsmith is best known for his high quality melodies. No one can do it like him. And truly, a smooth, complex tune, supported by thoughtful, emotional lyrics tends to be a rarity these days. Why is it that we often see one and not the other? Maybe this is a topic for the discussions page if someone wants to share their thoughts.
Back in the 1960s and 70s, with the likes of James Taylor and Simon and Garfunkel dominating the airwaves, he would have fit right in. Unfortunately, today we live with popular music that is dominated by R&B and hip-hop.
Don’t get me wrong, I love hip-hop. Recently, I’ve been playing Jay-Z’s MTV Unplugged record non-stop. But I digress…
This week Ron released a new album entitled, Time Being. Early response has been rather laudatory, and the assessments are definitely warranted. As the title suggests, the record is a prolonged rumination on his life and what he’s gained and lost along the way.
Stay tuned for Folk101’s review of the album, which in our opinion, is among Ron’s most accomplished.
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