Blue Rodeo – Intimate Magic

Consider this disclosure: a friend from Warner provided me with an advance copy of the new Blue Rodeo album “The Things We Left Behind” a couple of weeks ago. Many songs caught my attention and people in my car have been asking me to “rewind back” so they could hear them again. “One Light Left In Heaven” is one of those songs. Listen to it with your eyes closed (yes, I know it is a video).

I miss-understood the new Blue Rodeo Album
The thing is, I was listening to this new material all wrong and it took the live show at the Black Sheep on November 4 to set me straight. Another friend (not the same one), got me a ticket to this exclusive show and it is one I will NEVER forget. The harmonies, lyrics, violin and cello, soft female voices blending with Cuddy and Keelor all conspired to beat a path to parts of my brain and my heart I’ve been too busy to pay attention to.

Some Tears
A friend who came with me sadly separated from his wife very recently was overcome with emotion when the band played “All the Things That are Left Behind”. Such a powerful song that anyone who has had to leave love behind at some point in their life (i.e. everyone) can’t help but be transported back to that time through this song.

A Deeper Journey
That’s not to say that it is all quiet and sad, but this album is substantially deeper, both in terms of the lyrics but also in terms of the vocal and instrumental arrangements. The harmonies are more dramatic and they include new voices that blend stunningly well with Cuddy and Keelor. The string section also adds emotion and draws you in deeper. This is the kind of album you could listen to in the car but do yourself a favour and listen to it with the headset on while doing nothing else. Even better, buy the vinyl and drop the needle on it like the good old days.

Note that the double album drops Nov 10. It comes as a double CD, a gatefold vinyl that includes the two CDs (that’s what I’m picking up) and of course on iTunes.

Here’s a great post from Emily Chen who was in the crowd and caught much of it on video.

Cheers,
Allan Isfan
CEO, FaveQuest