But those of us who love music, love the offerings of Sade and The Cowboy Junkies. It's the latter band I'm focusing on because they have a new album entitled ALL THAT RECKONING. It's wonderful and another huge addition to their already impressive discography.
For those who haven't met the Junkies, they are a four person band. Alan Anton plays bass. The other three members are siblings: Peter Timmins (drums), Michael Timmins (guitar) and Margot Timmins (vocals). (A fourth sibling is the actress Cali Timmins who played Maggie on RYAN'S HOPE.) They first made a name for themselves in the US -- the band is Canadian -- with their second album THE TRINITY SESSIONS and especially with that albums covers of "Sweet Jane" and "Blue Moon."
THE TRINITY SESSIONS really established their sound in the same way that DIAMOND LIFE established Sade's sound. Both bands have explored and deepend their sound over the years. For The Cowboy Junkies, this has led to a very impressive discography which includes the classic studio albums THE TRINITY SESSIONS (1988), THE CAUTIOUS HORSE (1990), PALE SUN, CRESCENT MOON (1993), MILES FROM HOME (1998), EARLY 21ST CENTURY BLUES (2005) and AT THE END OF PATHS TAKEN (2007). In addition, their discography includes the live classic 200 MORE MILES: LIVE 1985-1994 (1995).
Eight classic albums. Unless you're Joni Mitchell, that's a lot, a hell of a lot. And with ALL THAT RECKONING, they bring the total to nine.
What's the best song on the album?
Maybe it's "The Things That We Do To Each Other"?
Fear is not so far from hate
So if you get the folks to fear
It only takes one small twist
To kick it up a gear
Oh oh oh
And you can control hate
But only for sooooo long
And when you lose control
Oooooh maaaaaam
The things we do to each other
Oooooh sister
Or maybe it's track eleven with it's cool ukulele line that seems to be a second cousin of Bobbie Gentry's country classic "Ode To Billie Joe."
I found the devil
Disguised as air, charged with electric current
I opened my mouth, he entered and said,
"You are mine, you are mine, you are mine."
I found the devil
Disguised as light, unhindered by passing shadow
I opened my eyes, he glared and said,
"You are mine, you are mine, you are mine."
I found the devil
Disguised as water, clean as my desire
I cupped my hands, he gathered and said,
"You are mine, you are mine, you are mine."
No talk of deals for souls
No dickering over details
No contracts sealed with blood
No legends born, no folk tales
You found me waiting,
Disguised as the devel, burdened with false intentions
You opened your arms, I came, you said
"You are mine, you are mine, you are mine."
It's time to especially note Michael and Margot, isn't it? The brother is one of North America's finest songwriters and he's damn lucky to have his sister as the chief interpreter of his songs. There hasn't been a stronger symbosis between writer and singer since the sixties when Holland-Dozier-Holland (Brian, Lamont and Eddie) wrote all the Supreme hits that Diana Ross sang lead on and Burt Baracharach and Hal David had Dionne Warwick as the chief interpreter of their songs.
I once slept
With my arms around you
My legs once bound you
And I'd wake with my heart so full of you
And then I found
That this bed was poison
That my life was frozen
And I lay afriad of ever touching you
I took my heart and lay it on the floor
You took my heart and softly asked for more
To write those lyrics ["All That Reckoning Part 1 and 2)"] is an accomplishment, to be able to have them sung by Margot Timmins is a gift. And, yes, that's another song I love from the album -- it might be the best track or maybe it's "Shining Teeth," or maybe it's . . .
This is a classic album. There are no misfires. 11 tracks that produce a cohesive musical statement, an album you can play start to finish. Remember those, back before downloading singles was all the rage?
It's a rich album and an enriching one, ALL THAT RECKONING is certainly one of 2018's finest.
