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Reviews

James Keelaghan — Second-Hand
(Borealis BCD 276, 2022, CD/LP)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2022-12-18

Second-Hand Cover art

James Keelaghan, a Canadian singer songwriter from Calgary, Alberta, has been releasing music since 1987. Second-Hand, his latest release, is his eleventh solo album. Keelaghan has a rich baritone voice that is quite pleasant and enjoyable. The ten new songs on his album are a mixture of country and outlaw country tunes, except for the opening song “Walk On.” “Walk On” is a jive tune similar to Cab Calloway’s “Minnie the Moocher.” Keelaghan is a consummate songwriter that many consder to be one of Canada’s all-time great singer-songwriters.  His sad love songs and protest songs are engaging. I just wish that his voice had a bit more edge to it as he falls short of fellow Canadians Gordon Lightfoot and Ian Tyson, as well as the Texas outlaw country singer songwriters Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt who all wrote similar songs in the 70s. Be that as it may, the final two songs, “Eulalie” and “The Benefit of Surrender,” are the best on the album. Recommended if you enjoy excellent singer-songwriter music.

Filed under: New releases, 2022 releases

Related artist(s): James Keelaghan

More info
http://borealisrecords.bandcamp.com/album/second-hand

 

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