The news that the Maritimes' best outlaw country band were making their third record a concept album initially caused a little apprehension. Would these no-nonsense shit-kickers somehow succumb to pretension and overblown ambition? Happily, no. There's a unifying theme to all these songs and together they tell the tale of a restless man seeking to find himself out on the road. The record is laid out in chapters, tied together by the authoritative narration of kindred spirit Tim Hus and the evocative artwork. Songs like "Driver, Driver" and "Restless Man" are compelling enough to stand on their own, though listening in sequence is advised. The full-blooded sound of the Divorcees remains intact and guest pedal steel players and a keyboardist flesh it out further. With bassist Denis Arsenault at the helm, the group produced Four Chapters themselves, while gutsy-voiced frontman Alex Madsen handled the lyrics. The odd lapse into cliché aside, he acquits himself well in expressing hard-won wisdom earned from his many miles logged on the road. This is a solid effort from a band that merit greater recognition.
Read an interview with the Divorcees here.
(Independent)Read an interview with the Divorcees here.
