Weakerthans front man John K Samson seems like a decent enough guy, and his solo album 'Provincial' suggests he's got game in the field of guitar-driven indie rock as well as the folk-punk field of his day-job. In fact, there are hints that he's not only listened to some of the big names, but is capable of producing material on a par with theirs: 'Longitudinal Centre', for example, invites comparisons to Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. Now, I'm no rabid fan of either, but can certainly see their appeal and appreciate the merits of their most significant recordings.
Elsewhere, 'Cruise Night' comes on like REM in a jangly indie mood after a few nights spent with a few beers listening to Pavement. It's unexpected, but by no means terrible. But then there are occasions when I get the impression he's just trying to be smart and quirky, and rather than being endearing, the sense is that he's trying just that little bit too hard, and it smacks of self-consciously constructed nerdiness. Try, for example, the geeksome wordplay of 'When I Write My Master's Thesis', or the closing line of 'The Last And'.
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And while the thumping drums of 'Highway 1 West' propel what you could reasonably describe as an anthemic chorus, the somewhat derivative nature of the songs (if you want Neil Young, REM, the Boss or Pavement, there's little point in stopping off here), coupled with Samson's rather whiney delivery combine to make 'Provincial' an album that's ok but definitely nothing more.
John K Samson Online
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