CD Review - The Coast

Lennie Gallant
When We Get There
(Maple)

The wait for a new English studio album by Lennie Gallant ends sweetly for all concerned. His rugged Acadian ramble has polished some edges in an effort to reach ears beyond Atlantic Canada. Boats and fiddles are absent, though violins turn up at a key moment. This time, domestic abuse meets vengeance, not earnest righteousness, in a small town gothic tale. Gallant’s French side is not buried. The lilting melody in “Pieces Of You,” the absence of one flower in “Eleven Roses” soak the songs in romance without using the word “love.” “I Want to Save the World for You” embodies the hope and fear of a new father. Through its thoughtful uptown tweaking, Gallant’s songwriting may be stronger than ever, and longtime fans should have few quibbles.
—Doug Taylor