Dave's Joel Plaskett Review

I really like this album because it doesn’t sound like Joel Plaskett should sound. It sound like Joel Plaskett wants to sound. Not that I’m a mind reader or anything and know what Joel Plaskett wants from his creative life (or life in general) but listening to this album is satisfying. Therefore I can also imagine the process of making was satisfying for Joel and everyone he included in the process.

“Three” is not my favourite Joel Plaskett album, but it is a good album. The concept, as far as I understand it, is everything in 3s. Song titles are often referred to in triplicate ( “Pine, Pine, Pine”, “Wait, Wait, Wait”) and choruses often repeat phrasing in triplicate. You have to admire an artist who sticks to the concept that they are working within. Jack White is a master of this. Joel Plaskett is learning to master this. His album’s concept is there on paper and I can imagine it works even better as a physical entity – you know with actual three discs broken out and divided and organized for listeners. But I don’t consume music like this anymore – I buy it digitally (and I am purchasing all these albums), therefore everything runs together and there seems to be no organization of it for me, except lyrically, or musically. Which begs the question, does the idea of concept album have to change based on delivery method in digital consumer era? I don’t think that is a debate for this space, but get in touch with your thoughts.

As for the songs on this record – they are great. They cover arcs of a bigger story, and all of them illustrate Joel’s evolution to the being crowned a “great Canadian Songwriter”. A place where he seemed destined to end up for fans that have been wooed by his magic arrangements before. What’s stands out for me personally on this album is that there are no crazy runaway hits like Joel would deliver before on albums. There is simply a consistent tone and vibe, Joel doesn’t rush us, his listener, to the point, he wants you to enjoy the journey, and he purposely crafts the album to make it worth the listen.

This album through and through feels Canadian. It has a twangy country vibe that we so proudly incorporate anywhere we can, he uses female collaborations to soften up storylines and add perspective – always nice touch. Of course he plugs in a turns up throughout the album. Listening and listening again, this record would be the first one I would throw on for a road trip to a rural town I’ve never heard of an most likely will never visit again.

As for the big Prize, I feel this one is the most accessible album we’ve run across so far, but if Joel’s going to win it, I think he has a better record in him that could take it.