While we haven't heard much from Guelph, ON-based singer-songwriter Richard Laviolette in recent years, he's just announced plans for a new LP. Following up 2010's All of Your Raw Materials with the Oil Spills, Laviolette will release Taking the Long Way Home on March 10 through You've Changed Records.
The record arrives as Laviolette's fourth full-length, and it hears him delivering a set of classic country-tinged songs intended "to warm the heart as well as the dancefloor."
The 11-song offering was produced by Andy Magoffin (Two-Minute Miracles) and features Lisa Bozikovic on piano, Matthew Reeves on lead guitar, Jessy Bell Smith (Skydiggers) on vocal harmonies, Julia Narveson (Ever Lovin' Jug Band, Lake of Stew) on fiddle and double bass, Aaron Goldstein (Cowboy Junkies, Bry Webb, Daniel Romano) on pedal steel, Heather Kirby (Ohbijou, Vag Halen) on electric bass, and Aaron Curtis (Two-Minute Miracles) on drums.
Despite the helping hands of the backing musicians, the project began as a collaboration between Laviolette and his father. Darrell Laviolette ended up unable to join his son for the recording process due to caretaking obligations for Richard's mother, Marie, who had Huntington's disease — but his influence and themes of family, home, change, illness and death can still be heard throughout the album.
Taking the Long Way Home's title track initially started as a document of Richard's own experience with health issues, chronic pain and surgeries, but since its conception, it's "come to represent the roads we all end up on in our lives."
You can hear that very tune right now. Just scroll past the tracklisting for Taking the Long Way Home and hit play to give it a listen.
Taking the Long Way Home:
1. Grey Rain
2. Two Guitars
3. Someone To Tell My Story When I'm Gone
4. Louella Austella
5. Old Country Music
6. Taking The Long Way Home
7. Red-Winged Blackbird
8. The Rock And The Moss
9. My Grandma's More Punk (Than Most Punks I Know)
10. Yesterday's Gospel
11. You've Really Got Me On The Run
The record arrives as Laviolette's fourth full-length, and it hears him delivering a set of classic country-tinged songs intended "to warm the heart as well as the dancefloor."
The 11-song offering was produced by Andy Magoffin (Two-Minute Miracles) and features Lisa Bozikovic on piano, Matthew Reeves on lead guitar, Jessy Bell Smith (Skydiggers) on vocal harmonies, Julia Narveson (Ever Lovin' Jug Band, Lake of Stew) on fiddle and double bass, Aaron Goldstein (Cowboy Junkies, Bry Webb, Daniel Romano) on pedal steel, Heather Kirby (Ohbijou, Vag Halen) on electric bass, and Aaron Curtis (Two-Minute Miracles) on drums.
Despite the helping hands of the backing musicians, the project began as a collaboration between Laviolette and his father. Darrell Laviolette ended up unable to join his son for the recording process due to caretaking obligations for Richard's mother, Marie, who had Huntington's disease — but his influence and themes of family, home, change, illness and death can still be heard throughout the album.
Taking the Long Way Home's title track initially started as a document of Richard's own experience with health issues, chronic pain and surgeries, but since its conception, it's "come to represent the roads we all end up on in our lives."
You can hear that very tune right now. Just scroll past the tracklisting for Taking the Long Way Home and hit play to give it a listen.
Taking the Long Way Home:
1. Grey Rain
2. Two Guitars
3. Someone To Tell My Story When I'm Gone
4. Louella Austella
5. Old Country Music
6. Taking The Long Way Home
7. Red-Winged Blackbird
8. The Rock And The Moss
9. My Grandma's More Punk (Than Most Punks I Know)
10. Yesterday's Gospel
11. You've Really Got Me On The Run