Published Sunday, January 10, 2010 in Amercana UK
By Kai Roberts
Scott MacLeod “Old Soul” (Independent, 2009)
More Canadian goodness.
The second album from Calgary based singer-songwriter Scott MacLeod gets off to a magnificent start with the eponymous song Old Soul. It opens as a gloriously bucolic acoustic strum, but as the bass-line bounces on and the backing vocals start up on later choruses, it builds into as fine a piece of sunshine-pop flecked country rock as you’re ever likely to hear. It’s debatable as to whether the album attains such lofty heights again but it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Over the course of the album, MacLeod reveals an impressive range as a songwriter without ever compromising the unity of the sound. In addition to obviously alt-country material such as the title track or Everytime, he also displays a talent for rocking out on Caught a Train or the chugging Grain Elevator Standing. Meanwhile, there’s the ramshackle campfire singalong Drink the Ocean Dry, hints of western-swing on Doreen and a debt to The Rolling Stones on the swaggering, decadent closer Run You Ragged.
The album never loses a rich, affirming feel and whilst MacLeod may not have the most individual vocal timbre, it’s a warm and appealing one nonetheless. He’s also a fine lyricist, with a touch of the barroom philosopher, with satisfying aphorisms such as “I pay my rent to a barstool every night” present throughout. It arguably lacks sufficient originality to rate as a truly impressive achievement but it nonetheless remains a collection of well-crafted, endearing material with scarcely a track wasted.
Date review added: Sunday, January 10, 2010
Reviewer: Kai Roberts
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link: Artist’s website