David Newberry

BC-based folk-rocker Newberry clearly lived up to the title of his well-received 2010 debut album, When We Learn the Things We Need to Learn, delivering an even stronger sophomore effort. He quotes beat poet Ferlinghetti in his album notes, cites Kerouac in one track and includes plenty of songs with social commentary, giving his sound and vision something of a retro feel. His songs and vocal performances have a very authentic and unforced feel, however. Lyrically, the mood ranges from the disillusioned (characters on "So It Goes" go "searching for saviours in armchairs and alcohol") to the more optimistic tone of album closer "To Hope." The musical textures are similarly varied. Some soaring electric guitar adds welcome power to album highlight "So It Goes," while the plaintive "Mister" uses pedal steel and female harmony vocals to fine effect, and a massed sing-along punctuates the title cut. Aiding Newberry's cause is a talented musical cast led by producer/engineer/multi-instrumentalist Adam Iredale-Gray (his violin work fuels the vigorous "Rock Bottom"), featuring drummer/pedal steel player Lucas Goetz (Deep Dark Woods). Newberry can be filed alongside the likes of young troubadours like Jerry Leger and Corin Raymond as evidence that Canadian roots music is in good hands.