Hawksley Workman
Less Rage More Tears
Isadora Records/The Orchard
Hawksley Workmanβs newest release, Less Rage More Tears is an absolute departure from 2019βs Median Age Wasteland. While the latter was more conventional guitar-based folk rock, Less Rage More Tears is somewhat reminiscent of 2010βs Milk and 2003βs Lover/Fighter, to a lesser extent, with Workman returning to his ultra-whimsical, inventive and multi-faceted, upbeat pop rock ways, but with even more detail and complexity.
Produced by Montrealβs Marcus Paquin (Arcade Fire, The National, Stars, Sarah Harmer), this full-fledged 100% CanCon album offers some softer moments while at other times goes full-throttle in the direction of danceable synth rock. Throughout Less Rage More Tears, Workman, the two-time Juno award-winning Canadian multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, often takes us on time journeys through his youth, with β80s pop culture Easter egg references and sounds. Indie rock, pop, techno, rock, and dance music all intermix to make Less Rage More Tears a treat, especially for those with a desire for variety.
Nine tracks round out the vinyl release of Less Rage More Tears, with the CD version delivering ten songs, which includes βJust A Dream (Joguco Remix)β.
Opening track, βDwindling Beauty (Letβs Fake Our Deaths Together)β, although lyrically quite despondent, opens with Workmanβs sweet slow melodic voice, moving succinctly into a catchy chorus, making this a nice introduction and brings us back to a Lover/Fighter vibe.
βAround Hereβ and βJust a Dreamβ, the first two singles, suitably released earlier in the summer where they received heavy radio play, both kick into high gear synth and drums in an β80s inspired spirit. In βAround Hereβ, feline-lover Workman howls with the stray cat analogy of belonging; βI know we just want to be rescued somedays, with the stolen eyes of love that we carefully hide awayβ.
βTahiti Treatβ, much like the childrenβs pop equivalent of wine in the β80s, is a behemoth track. Evocative of artists such as MGMT, Depeche Mode, John Carpenter and even Sβexpress, βTahiti Treatβ delivers an abundance of adventurous sounds and an upstanding rhythmic beat in the form of a love song.
Guitar-focused βGood Old Fashioned Acid Rainβ harkens nostalgia to a time when polluted rain, threats of nuclear war, and satanic metal band messages were our leading fears. Opening with
βWhatever happened to good old-fashioned acid rain?
I miss those simpler times?
Iβd give anything to have them back again,
To those handmade years backed up by a laugh trackβ.
Hawksley Workmanβs always impressive creativeness and vocal range continue to shine on through each subsequent album, including this soul-warming dynamic release. Less Rage More Tears is quite possibly Workmanβs finest, right when we need it most.
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HAWKSLEY WORKMAN – LESS RAGE MORE TEARS
John Graham