|
|
|
 After ten years
of touring, numerous hit singles, multiple Juno awards and sales of over
two million albums with Canadian musical heroes The Rankins (which
disbanded in 1999), Jimmy Rankin emerges with his debut album Song
Dog and moves into the realm of solo singer-songwriter.
Jimmy Rankin is a chronicler of human experience: love, fate, wanderlust, fear and destitution. Through imagery that seamlessly transports you from the water's edge in a harbour town to the gritty streets of the city, visual and musical boundaries blur on this album. Raw emotion and masterful musicality meet pop, roots rock and Celtic-tinged flavours head-on. With Song Dog, Jimmy delivers a collection of twelve tracks packed with thought-provoking lyrics, stirring melodies and edgy hooks that clearly represent a fresh, new direction for one of Canada's most beloved recording artists. Known nationwide as a vocalist, guitar player and principal songwriter for The Rankins, Song Dog firmly cements Jimmy Rankin’s status on the solo stage as among Canada’s premiere singer- songwriters. "I am grateful for my years with The Rankins," says Jimmy. "It was all tremendously rewarding." The Rankins won countless ECMAs, several CCMAs, and five Junos including Entertainer of the Year, and Single of the Year for Jimmy's self-penned song "Fare Thee Well Love", The Rankins' signature song, which broke the band on Canadian radio. As well, for his various hit singles, Jimmy accumulated five SOCAN awards based on top radio airplay. Despite their successes, Jimmy says of The Rankins’ break-up; "It was time for a change. We were at different places in our lives, and we wanted to do different things." After a two-year hiatus from playing, partly from recording constraints but primarily due to the untimely death of his brother and bandmate John Morris, Jimmy went into the studio. "I've always wanted to make a solo record to explore another part of my creative headspace. It was simply time to get back at it." In September 2000 Rankin began sifting through nearly forty songs written over the past decade to choose the tracks that would comprise Song Dog. In choosing material, Jimmy says, "I was motivated to find my own voice- to make something different, more rough and musically spontaneous." In November, at the suggestion of long-time business associate and friend, Chip Sutherland, Jimmy began working with songwriter/producer, Tim Thorney. "I was impressed with the immediacy and raw honesty inherent in Tim's songs and productions. He was working with Alanis Morrissette at the time, but he was able to fit both of us in with some schedule juggling. The first time I met Tim, we spent the afternoon sitting around, drinking beer and then after a few hours, he said 'Let's go record some songs’."
Song Dog takes the listener on an eclectic musical journey through Jimmy Rankin's repertoire. Much of the material on Song Dog is uncommonly pictorial in its descriptive tones, which is not surprising as Jimmy, often a visual thinker, attended the Nova Scotia School of Art & Design where he obtained a degree in Fine Arts. "There’s a lot of imagery," he says of his songs. "They’re kind of like snapshots of life." In approaching the writing of a song, Jimmy explains, "I keep a notebook and tape recorder with me. At times I’ll carry around an idea in my head for a long time. Eventually it manifests itself musically. I like to write very quickly and hone it later." From the opening strains of the Hammond B-3 organ in "Followed Her Around", the initial track and first single from Song Dog, it is immediately apparent that Jimmy’s musical direction traverses all genres. His signature raspy vocals meld with the musical grit of a romp through territory mined by acts like Blue Rodeo, and in fact, singer-songwriter Greg Keelor contributes backing vocals to the track. It’s an infectious song that sets the tone for the remainder of the album.
"Wasted," a somewhat remorseful look back at a relationship during a drunken evening, was written during a trip to Italy. The harmonica solo in the middle evokes the pain of separation, and the hangdog melody suggests better days. There is a more acoustic-based section in the middle of the record that recalls and pays homage to Jimmy’s musical roots. Songs like "We’ll Carry On" and "Tripper" have a coastal sensibility evident both musically and lyrically. The addition of dobro and mandolin underscore the seriousness of the message behind "We’ll Carry On," which examines the strength and resilience of those whose lives rely on the sea for sustenance. "Tripper," based on a true story, recalls the innocence of childhood in the midst of a violent death, and is sustained by sorrowful mandolin and soaring harmonies sung by sister and former bandmate, Cookie Rankin. Cookie also adds backing vocals to "Midnight Angel", "You and Me", "Stoned Blue" and "Captain Harmony". Other guests on the album include Greg Keelor, Joel Feeney, Cassandra Vasik and Gordie Sampson.
|
"[Song Dog] far surpasses anything he's recorded or written before, and it is sure to please fans of artists such as Steve Earle and Jimmie Dale Gilmore who are looking for a troubadour with roots in Canada rather than Texas." - Mike Devlin, Victoria Times Colonist "The songs all paint such vivid imagery that a listener is sure to find a song on there that they can relate to...either the tragedy of losing someone...a romance with someone...the hardships of dealing with substance-abuse or many of life's general happenings." - Kimberley, Celtic Cafe Canada "My favourite Rankin album so far." - Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Sun |
For the most current tour dates, please visit Jimmy Rankin's Website at www.jimmyrankin.com or www.rankins.ca |
For more info on Jimmy Rankin, check out his website at http://www.jimmyrankin.com or The Rankins Online Website at http://www.rankins.ca Booking Info - Richard Mills, SL Feldman & Associates, Toronto, ON, Phone: (416) 598-0067 or Fax: (416) 598-9597, Email: mills@slfa.com Fan Mail - Jimmy Rankin, Song Dog Music Co. Limited, PO Box 47044, 2151 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS, B3K 5Y2, CANADA, Email: info@jimmyrankin.comTo order Jimmy Rankin's CD, visit HMV, Amazon.com or Portland America's website. If you're interested in more Canadian Celtic Music, visit www.islandviewcreations.com/canadacelticmusic |
Song Dog, which will be distributed by EMI
Music Canada, was recorded between January and April 2001 at Great Big
Music in Toronto. Jimmy wrote all of the material himself, with the
exception of the first single, "Followed Her Around", which was
co-written with Gordie Sampson. The twelve tracks that comprise Song Dog
illustrate Jimmy Rankin’s ease at holding his own with the best
singer-songwriters out there - from David Gray to the likes of Steve
Earle, Jeff Tweedy, Jimmie Dale Gilmour, and Lyle Lovett.
A master at creating ballads that cut to
the core of the matter, Jimmy delivers several outstanding ones on Song
Dog, including "Lighthouse Heart," an achingly beautiful track
that celebrates the bonds of love. Sparsely orchestrated, the song relies
on the lilting piano to set a mood of both isolation from and devotion to
a life partner.
A contribution Jimmy wishes could have been is
that from his brother John Morris, who was killed in a car accident in
early 2000. "I’ve always written with his piano style in mind and I
can hear it in lots of the songs, especially on 'Tripper'." As it
turned out, many of Brent Barkman's piano stylings on Song Dog, are
somewhat reminiscent of John Morris'. The death of John Morris, mourned by
family, friends and fans alike, was devastating and is a topic still
considered by Jimmy to be too difficult to discuss publicly. "My
brother was and continues to be incredibly important to me. He will be
with me forever," he says quietly. Not surprisingly Song Dog is
dedicated to the memory of John Morris.
