Written and sung by renowned Canadian poet Robert Priest. Here's a review By Daryl Jung from the big bridge:
Robert Priest: Feeling The Pinch
Venerable Toronto troubadour, songwriter, kids star, aphorist and stand-up comic Robert Priest is out with a new disc of very adult songs that might be fairly described as folk-rock — it's soulful and sweet and tells somehow moving, fascinatin' tales.
But the topically titled Feeling The Pinch (which offers up 11 craftily crafted, expertly executed and eminently politically and poetically Priestian — never mind crazily tuneful — takes on love and life in the age of Occupy) quickly flies from that pigeonhole and breezes into pop, bares some rocky teeth when the whim hits and exudes emotional veracity worthy of the honkiest of honky-tonks. It's a strong and stylish set — lyrically, of course, without exception, a kaleidoscopically tight delight. The man is a poet...
Of course, beneath the mellifluous guitars and keys of David Bradstreet, the solidity and taste of drummer Gary Craig and bassman Carl Keesee (plus luminous guest appearances by Alannah Myles, Nancy Simmonds, RP songwriting collaborator Allen Booth on organ and the great Neil Chapman on electric guitar) lies the peculiar insight, endless sensitivity and through-the-past-darkly humour Priest fans have come to expect — and love, and respect.
The major treats, though, are the vocal performances. All the greats are here, as RP warbles out a barrage of homage — Dylan, Lennon, Hank Williams, and even a little Tom Petty thrown in for good nature. But most gratifying is Priest's distillation from all such influence of a personal and powerful singing style that is at once bright-eyed yet not without its hard-lived truth. McCartney meets Morrison maybe. In any case, his versatility as a singer is clearly expanding and there's little doubt he's in the best voice of his life.
Some highlights: the insanely wonderful Working Class Hero John/Beatles reference of Who The Fuck Knows; an arousing cover of the Myles/Simmonds/Priest hit Song Instead Of a Kiss; and RP's harp solo on The Common Stink; for a few.
No joke, Feeling The Pinch is among Priest's finest work in any genre. It does what it likely, largely, set out to do — ease the pinch's sting.
Uplifting. Accomplished. Sharp. Thoughtful. Brilliant. Down. Highly recommended.
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