Canadiana Grotesquica, Vancouver songwriter/accordionist and writer Geoff Berner's seventh album, marks a return to a style of music he had more or less set aside (at least on record) in favour of Klezmer since his earliest records. Reminiscent of Jonathan Richman's Jonathan Goes Country, this album could've been called The Whiskey Rabbi Goes Canadiana, Again. Which raises the question, what exactly qualifies as Canadiana?
Well, first of all, (and obviously), Berner is singing about some very Canadian stuff: the ghost of Terry Fox, hockey hero Gino Odjick and well-loved songwriter Corb Lund, who we're warned on tongue-in-cheek "Don't Play Cards for Money with Corby Lund" to never, ever play poker with. (Berner also includes a cover of Rae Spoon's critical and arty ode to Calgary, "My Heart Is a Piece of Garbage, Fight Seagulls! Fights!")
But sonically, Canadiana, as it is revisited here by Berner and producer/multi-instrumentalist Paul Rigby and friends (including longtime collaborators Diona Davies, Ford Pier and Carolyn Mark), sounds sweet, rustic, countrified and yet at the same time, arguably more sophisticated and diverse than most Americana in its borrowing from Klezmer, rock and European folk, which all find their way into the collection.
Berner includes some old songs here ("Phony Drawl," an intentionally annoying sendup of Canadian singers who have a tendency to do you know what) and is up to his old tricks — namely, making scathing political points with a side of sarcastic wit, while keeping things danceable (as on "Hustle Advisory," featuring backup vocals by Frazey Ford, and hummable folk-rock highlight "Super Subtle Folk Song," which is of course anything but).
What's often most surprising and memorable on a Geoff Berner album, however — and Canadiana Grotesquica is no exception — is when he lays aside his funny provocateur hat for a moment to sing something more straight up and heartfelt: "Prairie Wind" and Klezmer-y "Trick You" are good examples of this.
(Coax)Well, first of all, (and obviously), Berner is singing about some very Canadian stuff: the ghost of Terry Fox, hockey hero Gino Odjick and well-loved songwriter Corb Lund, who we're warned on tongue-in-cheek "Don't Play Cards for Money with Corby Lund" to never, ever play poker with. (Berner also includes a cover of Rae Spoon's critical and arty ode to Calgary, "My Heart Is a Piece of Garbage, Fight Seagulls! Fights!")
But sonically, Canadiana, as it is revisited here by Berner and producer/multi-instrumentalist Paul Rigby and friends (including longtime collaborators Diona Davies, Ford Pier and Carolyn Mark), sounds sweet, rustic, countrified and yet at the same time, arguably more sophisticated and diverse than most Americana in its borrowing from Klezmer, rock and European folk, which all find their way into the collection.
Berner includes some old songs here ("Phony Drawl," an intentionally annoying sendup of Canadian singers who have a tendency to do you know what) and is up to his old tricks — namely, making scathing political points with a side of sarcastic wit, while keeping things danceable (as on "Hustle Advisory," featuring backup vocals by Frazey Ford, and hummable folk-rock highlight "Super Subtle Folk Song," which is of course anything but).
What's often most surprising and memorable on a Geoff Berner album, however — and Canadiana Grotesquica is no exception — is when he lays aside his funny provocateur hat for a moment to sing something more straight up and heartfelt: "Prairie Wind" and Klezmer-y "Trick You" are good examples of this.
