The Canadian folk rockers are back with their third album, and most musical album yet. Their previous album focused primarily on the delivery of simple acoustic pop and folk tunes that were full of life. This time the boys bring in some great backup talent to the mix, adding an excellent depth to their new tunes. The violin usage throughout the entire album reminds us that these guys are from the great white north, adding a subtle country style to their music. "Boon 'Elm," which they smartly decided to give away free before the release of the album, is best track on the album, and sums up the mood and sound of the entire album is just one song. "Cuban B" and "Any Day Now" are also excellent songs and show off their fun loving style as well and their great songwriting skills. Jon and Roy are bursting onto the scene in a big way, and this album, their most cohesive yet, is going to solidify them as superstars of the acoustic folk rock scene.
Folk duos are very popular. There have been many very famous duos that have released some very famous music. For Jon and Roy, it's not about that. It's about making simple, easy to listen to music. You are supposed to be transported to another place by music. These guys manage to transport you right to the beach, even if that beach happens to be on the cold Canadian coast and not the warm California coast. "Little Bit Of Love" is as simple as folk music gets, and the delivery of this simplicity is done in an incredibly creative and accessible way. The title track of this album is also quite good. For fans of Jack Johnson, Jon And Roy is the epitome of surfer music. The Canadians have mastered the formula of how to make a chilled out folk song and have put together an entire album in this style that is far from boring or redundant. Great things are on the horizon for this duo, and they may just yet find their way alongside Hall & Oates and Simon & Garfunkel as great duos in folk music history.
New music out today that is worth checking out: