2006template

Theory of Your Life

Ian North

EarRational Music

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"Since you ask, the theory of Ian North's life is that dying is easy, and comedy is hard. A sardonic quip on an absorbed disc, from the mouth of a Toronto troubadour who is both a skeptical singer-songwriter and a colourful tale-weaver. Don't believe him when he says that predictions are easy either. The future holds tricks: for a celebrity safe-swiper on the Ballad of Stephen Reid, and for a journeyman on the elegiac Leaving Buffalo. Ain't nothing as simple as it seems -- that is North's true best guess." -- B.W

Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

"Toronto songwriter Ian North’s inviting voice draws the listener in to his intricate narratives, which spin tales ranging from the mundane to the madcap. But from bank robberies in Vancouver to fistfights in a Buffalo trailer park, North keeps things on a remarkably even keel. Blending elements of country, folk, blues and jazz, North muses on the meaning of life, which ends up sounding a lot like home no matter where you’re from. With friends like Bob Wiseman on accordion, Paul Mathew from the Hidden Cameras on bass and cellist Don Kerr from the Rheostatics backing him up, the musicianship on Theory of Your Life is flawless. Subtle melodies combined with lyrics that deal with the frailties at the heart of humanity, make this a pleasurable follow-up to North’s 2002 debut."

Rachel Sanders - Exclaim!

"This local singer/songwriter launched his second CD, Theory Of Your Life (out via Festival) with a recent NOW Lounge showcase. The folk-rooted disc features such ace players as DON KERR, MICHAEL JOHNSTON and BOB WISEMAN, but North's eloquent songs and expressive voice are its core. For the short industry set, he was accompanied by harmony vocalist JENNIFER CLAVEAU, and their rendition of CD highlight "You Make Me Blue" evoked GRAM PARSONS and EMMYLOU HARRIS comparisons. Lovely stuff."

Kerry Doole, Tandem Online

"Unusually vivid first-person narratives, both confessional and pure confection, are probably his strongest suit, but Toronto songwriter Ian North - born and raised in Ottawa - has spent several years in Vancouver - also has a strong and distinctive voice, and a penchant for clever chord changes that keep his odd melodies in a state of ungrounded suspension somewhere between acoustic pop and jazzy folk. With little more than acoustic guitars, an occasional piano, dobro, cello or accordion, drums, bass and the odd vocal harmony, North creates a richly musical context for his complex yarns ("The Ballad of Stephen Reid" is typical) and ruminations ("Leaving Buffalo," outstanding) on this, his second independent CD." ***

Greg Quill, The Toronto Star

*** 1/2 (out of five)

Almost a norm in Canadian folk circles, the draw to this decent sophomore outing will be more toward this Ottawa-born, Toronto-based troubadour’s story-tales — such as the figure skater he knew and married (Skater) or the Vancouver bank robber (The Ballad Of Stephen Reid) he ruminates about..."

Ian Nathanson, Metro Toronto

"Ian North reminds me of home – the countryside, up north, closer to heaven and a lot further from distraction. Ian North’s sound is beautiful and wise, both spoken and sung from a heart of gold and an imagination always in use. There is romance stitched into his poetic lyrics and hymns upon time, love and harmony between life and death, nature and discord within nature’s affairs. His sound, as on his previous effort, Emptiful (2002), is stripped of any distraction or special effects, instead employing simple beats and melodies that work with his wise and whip-smart pseudo-folk rap..."

Feature Article by Jessica Shulist, May 2006

News

R e c e n t N e w s & R e v i e w s

Look for the title track "Skates" from "Theory of Your Life" in the October 2006 Paste Magazine CD Sampler #25.

Track #5 "The Ballad of Stephen Reid" wins the "Historical" award from the OCFF Songs From the Heart Contest.