André Ethier

Some people are so loyal to their hometowns that they'll celebrate any record as long as it's local. In my opinion, familiarity can be a handicap. It's not that Toronto doesn't have a great music scene but when something is made in your backyard, it's harder to preserve the critical distance necessary for evaluation. I mention this only to underscore the following point: André Ethier's Born of Blue Fog is one of the best records I've heard in years, by anyone, from anywhere. Ethier has both the talent and the swagger of a true cult celebrity; he sings with authority and his songs are distinctive but completely sophisticated - not one note goes to waste. Though the word is overused, Born of Blue Fog fits most of the "classic" criteria; its approach is informed by the undeniable acts of yesteryear but it adds something new, which is neither gimmicky nor forgettable. This is a thoroughly enjoyable, self-contained work by a singer-songwriter who gets it, a rarity, to say the least. And I genuinely hope that audiences everywhere will get to hear it.