Julie Doiron - Heart and Crime (2002)
Sending the Photographs









Emily Haines - Knives Don't Have Your Back (2007)
Reading in Bed









Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue (2008)
Trying My Best To Love You
(2008)








Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand (2007)
Rich Woman









Tegan and Sara - The Con (2007)
The Con

Gentleman Reg hails from Trenton, Ontario. A sleepy little town revolving around an army base, this place surely has something to do with who he has become. I blogged about one track on These Roving Eyes, the gorgeous "Oh My God", which has been playing endlessly in my world. The album is eclectic, to say the least, ranging from sad and introspective songs like that one all the way to bouncing dance tracks like "We're in a Thunderstorm" (download now!) While broad, the album is cohesive, his voice a distinctive and perfect thread of continuity across these varied sounds. Produced by Dave Draves (who has worked with the super Kathleen Edwards) Reg Vermue sings every song in a slightly different version of the same fey and beautiful voice, though rarely verging on more than a hard whisper. At times reminding me of a moodier Jason Schwartzman (Coconut Records) there are palpably sunny moments strewn throughout. On the album opener, "Coastline", he sings with Elizabeth Powell (Land of Talk) laying the groundwork for a California-pop fourth album. However the mood is quickly countered by track two ("To Some It Comes Easy") which reminds me something of Tegan and Sara, a herky-jerky sing-along, a touch darker, he says "I hope for something that I still can't find." The album easily moves between these two worlds, the frothy and the quiet bedroom stuff I love so much.

I often put music into seasons: Winter Music would include the likes of Julie Doiron and Catpower, while Summer Music features Jill Scott, Estelle and Madonna. Jet Black is the kind of album you can listen to year-round - Light enough to pair with a gin and tonic but rich enough to hunker down with during the coldest months. If you haven't already, look into Gentleman Reg's entire catalogue on iTunes.


Rating:

I will swipe my first entry from These Roving Eyes. Cheap, I know.

A little Winter Mixed Tape for y'all. A collection of songs I'm loving - some old, some new, all receiving constant play in my world. Enjoy and check these artists out on iTunes.

1) Epilepsy is Dancing – Antony and the Johnsons
2) Went Walking – Bosque Brown
3) Tailor – Julie Doiron
4) Hold Time – M. Ward
5) Mykonos – Fleet Foxes
6) Paddy’s Gone – Antony and the Johnsons
7) Broken Chair – Jim Guthrie
8) He Doesn’t Know Why – Fleet Foxes
9) Another World – Antony and the Johnsons
10) Prescilla – Bat for Lashes
11) Aeon – Antony and the Johnsons
12) You Are Free – Cat Power
13) Streetlights – Kanye West
14) Oh My God – Gentleman Reg
15) Gossip in the Grain – Ray LaMontagne
16) Man Under the Sea – Patrick Watson
17) Oh Lonesome Me – M. Ward
18) Little Tornados – Aimee Mann
19) Call it Off – Tegan and Sara
20) Magpie to the Morning – Neko Case

Download the zip!