Devon Sproule

While still in her teens, Devon Sproule's singer-songwriting gifts landed her on tour with the Dave Matthews Band. A few years later, the precocious, American-raised Ontario native saw her record claim its spot on year-end best-of lists. As is often the case with such early bloomers, Sproule's exploration into other genres fed her artistic growth. The rock-influenced sounds of her freshman records matured into the traditional folk-informed meditations of Upstate Songs, then back to livelier fare on Keep Your Silver Shined (which was rooted in jazz and alt-country), culminating in the tie-dyed Don't Hurry for Heaven! I Love You, Go Easy is yet another instalment of Sproule's twangy, introspective folk-jazz, tastefully festooned with the occasional groovy guitar riff. Change is introduced with Sproule's new backing band, Toronto's the Silt, along with Sandro Perri as instrumentalist and album producer. I Love You, Go Easy is front-loaded with her most entertaining material. The gorgeous "If I Can Do This" transports you to carefree days of childhood puddle stomping and the belief that anything is within reach. Especially memorable is "Monk/Monkey," for its innovative arrangements and Sproule's earthy delivery. The record loses momentum towards the last half and hits its low point with Sheryl Crowe sound-alike "Now is the Time." Studio record number six is pleasant but not stellar. Although it's tempting to state that she's lost some steam over the years, it's also likely that there's just less to marvel at now that her age has caught up to her talent.