SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GORD DOWNIE & BOB ROCK – LUSTRE PARFAIT

Gord Downie & Bob Rock
Lustre Parfait
Arts & Crafts

Lustre Parfait, a collaboration between the late Gord Downie and famed producer Bob Rock, is a labour of love that was a decade in the making. Work began on the project soon after Rock had finished working on the Tragically Hip’s 2009 release, We Are the Same.  Downie had approached Rock, asking if he had any music that he could pen lyrics for, and in the years following, Lustre Parfait was born.

Lustre Parfait Busts straight out of the gate with “Greyboy Says”. This is a true banger of a rock song with so much punch it’s ridiculous. With Rock on guitar accompanied by Offspring’s Dexter Holland and Noodles also both pulling guitar duty, as well as the great Abe Laboriel Jr. (Paul McCartney’s band and many others) keeping time with absolutely solid drumming, it is a hell of a start to a hell of an album.

Downie’s poignant lyrical style has always been among his strongest suits, and on Lustre Parfait this is very much the case. Lines such as “Some days I just can’t do it/The only way around is through it” on the rousing “The Raven And The Red Tailed Hawk” are testament to his beautiful mind.

It is almost as if for this project Downie had made a vow to push himself to his vocal limits because scattered throughout this record are some of what I consider some of his strongest and most emotive passages. On the glorious and gorgeous “Is There Nowhere”, he reaches such great heights that it gives one goosebumps, and raises the hair on the back of the neck.

Lustre Parfait is an important release for both fans of the man and for those who love big shiny rock songs. It is a perfect meeting of minds and an ode to longtime friendship steeped in time and talent. Before he had passed, Downie implored Rock to finish this project and make certain that people hear it and thank God for that because this album is damn near a rock masterpiece.

Somewhere, Gordon Edgar Downie is striking a pose and giving the world a playful cheeky grin.

Gord Downie Links