On their seventh record (second to garner a non-local release), Vancouver's
Clumsy Lovers
have hit the sweet spot with their signature blend of irreverent
folk-rock
and
progressive country
.
Smart Kid
is what
Barenaked Ladies
might have sounded like had they continued in the vein of
Gordon
instead of pandering to
MTV
. It's goofy, earnest, meticulously crafted, and expertly played, with echoes of early
Camper Van Beethoven
Spirit of the West
. That earnestness keeps less comedic numbers like
"Coming Home"
"Not Long for This World"
from turning into sentimental filler and helps make offbeat numbers such as
"Bobby Banjo,"
"Cock of the North,"
and the
Celtic
reggae
-infused
"London Bridge"
actually work.
The Clumsy Lovers
have managed to nail down the often intangible feel of a truly congenial, inclusive, and well-attended club show, and it's a testament to their authenticity that it comes off without a hint of pretense. ~ James Christopher Monger