Album Notes

Dave Marsh’s debut solo recording, The True Love Rules, is a gritty, indie release full of honesty and attitude. The fact that Dave is a drummer at heart is evident in the solid rhythms that sit in the basement of each tune. His lyrics reflect timeless themes like true love, growing up and getting older, and facing difficult life questions, all while maintaining a wry and distinctive sense of humour. Combine the rhythm and language with Marsh’s strong sense of melody and you have a great record in your hands.

Dave’s experience with writing and performing spans over twenty years and half a dozen genres. His musical career has taken him across Canada, the US, throughout Europe and as far afield as Australia. He is a founding member of the Joel Plaskett Emergency, with whom he continues to record and perform, and he has married this enduring musical connection with his solo work by inviting Plaskett to co-produce his first solo recording.

The True Love Rules was written and recorded throughout 2007 in Halifax, Dartmouth and Sydney, Australia. Long time collaborators and friends contributed to several of the tracks with guest appearances led by Plaskett, The SuperFriendz, original Emergency bassist Tim Brennan, Cool Blue Halo’s Paul Boudreau, and Peter Elkas.

A Nova Scotia rock record that rolls like a modern classic, “The True Love Rules” rings bells like David Bowie, The La’s, Guided By Voices, The Stooges, The Four Tops and Willie Nelson. From the discordant nostalgia of “Backstreets Thread” to the tuneful and mature confidence of “I’ll Let Them Know You Were Here”, Dave’s songs are ferociously honest no matter what musical vein he’s mining. Both optimistic and reflective, his lyrical playfulness and unique voice are what make this record special in today’s overly polished musical climate.