Is it is ok to hail a collection of old tunes as your album of the year at the quarter mark pole? Too right you can, especially when you throw into the mix hearing them for the first time. When Justin Rutledge decided that the moment had arrived to re-work a sample of songs from his extensive back catalogue and finally turn his hand to recording a couple of personal favourites from elsewhere, the hope maybe was there that new fans might catch on. ISLANDS does just that to the extent that the nine songs chosen for this collection exist as floating oases in a tranquil sea of exquisite song writing. In a haze of optimal stripped back exertion, Rutledge has reflected back to project forward with stunning consequences.
Shamefully, but not without an intent for redemption, there is a raft of male Canadian singer-songwriters stretching back to the mid 2000s lying well known yet largely undiscovered in my book. A plausible excuse has been savouring so many female artists from this genre. Anyhow this opportunity to engage with Justin Rutledge is the catalyst to move one such artist from the periphery to centre stage. A place richly deserved on the evidence presented here from a 44 minute display of sheer bliss.
This is the Toronto artist's ninth release and he has drawn songs from five of his previous albums. This ultimately represents seven of the tracks with the two odd ones out being a cover of the Tragically Hip's 'Nautical Disaster' and Rutledge finally taking the plunge to record a version of his long standing live crowd pleaser 'Jellybean'. He called in a few friends to help out with the last track and it can easily be imagined as a connective singalong at the end of a Rutledge concert. For a little bit of comparison with artists I am more au fait with this song has all the hallmark of an Orphan Brigade collaboration.
On the press release accompanying ISLANDS, Rutledge commented on the pride of reworking 'Federal Mail' as an instrumental to see how the melody works without the words. No worries here, it is glorious. Going back to soundalike associations with artists from closer to my listening core, 'This is War' is so reminiscent of Simone Felice at his finest. There is really not a bad track on this album and it is likely the settled mood you are in that catapults 'Alberta Breeze' and 'St, Peter' to the fore. Probably because you are absolutely in the zone when tracks 7 and 8 kick in as well.
'Good Man', 'Out of the Woods' and album opener 'Come Summertime' complete the set and may be familiar to Rutledge stalwarts. The temptation to track back and listen to the songs in their original format is strong, but for newbies like here, the bar is set exceedingly high.
ISLANDS may be borne from a desire to re-set a career and plot a way forward in these unprecedented times. With that objective, it's mission accomplished. Justin Rutledge has had a presence in the UK for many years dating back to when he was launched over here first before taking root back home. In normal times this 44 minute experience of pure delight is built for the intimate live setting. Hopefully something accessible in the future. However listening in your armchair switching your mind away from all the madness is a similarly splendid way to while away the time.
