NewMusic First Spin: Jason Collett
March 2nd, 2010
Though he’s unjustly recognized more for his membership in Broken Social Scene, prolific Toronto-based troubadour Jason Collett has built himself a trusty catalogue that’s equal parts hook-heavy pop, good time rock’n’roll and soul-searching folk.
Recorded with Carlin Nicholson and Michael O’Brien of his backing band Zeus, Rat A Tat Tatmarks Collett’s fourth album of the decade and arguably his best effort yet. Wearing his Canadiana roots on his sleeve, Rat A Tat Tatmoves like a tour across our fair nation, province to province - something he’s had his fair share of both as part of BSS and on his own.
Collett’s oeuvre is one that moves like a strong breeze through a selection of influences. Beginning with a Dylan-esque twang for “Rave On, Sad Songs,” Collett opens on one of the album’s more dour notes, exploring heartbreak by announcing “happiness is for amateurs” over a mix of accordion and country-blues guitar. But “Lake Superior” changes the colour of his mood ring by doubling up Collett’s vocals and dropping sharp, bleeding guitar riffs to generate some glam rock swagger.
“Love Is A Dirty Word” keeps things moving by kicking up a dirty, little funk bass line to accentuate the playful tone of Collett’s words, which he delivers in an amusingly cocky croon. He then strikes AM Gold with the swinging, feel-good stomper “High Summer,” and shows his contributions to the BSS enterprise with “Love Is A Chain,” flashing his chops for penning a perfect, road-trip-bound pop song.
The last quarter of Rat A Tat Tatexpresses a fondness for the Beatles in “The Slowest Dance” with its snap rhythm, tight guitar chords and underlining piano twinkle; album standout “Winnipeg Winds” summons a ghostlike presence to become an eerie murder ballad; and “Vanderpool Vanderpool” signs off with a lackadaisical coolness to it, resorting back his freewheelin’ Dylan-ish persona to draw the album to a close.
Jason will start up the van and take Rat A Tat Taton the road as part of the Bonfire Ball, which also features Zeus and Bahamas. The tour begins in Toronto on March 10th.
Click here to listen to a stream of Rat A Tat Tat.
Author: Cam Lindsay
Tags: broken social scene, Jason Collett, Rat A Tat, Zeus
Posted on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 3:48 pm by Cam and is filed under Reviews, The New Music.
My dad has all the albums of Beatles, close to 49 of them and I appreciate listening to them.