SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MURRAY A. LIGHTBURN – ONCE UPON A TIME IN MONTREAL

Murray A. Lightburn
Once Upon A Time In Montreal
Dangerbird Records

Murray A Lightburn’s third solo album, Once Upon A Time In Montreal, is a deeply dramatic, personal affair. Herein, Lightburn takes a pause from his primary gig as singer/songwriter of Montreal’s The Dears to present a heartfelt retrospective tribute to his late father, saxophonist Reverend William J. Lightburn, who passed in 2020.

Lightburn sheds his indie rock skin and turns, once again, to his crooning, folk and jazz influences, as he similarly did in his sophomore solo record, 2019’s Hear Me Out, although this time it’s a more notably sombre, stripped-down, deeply personal storytelling venture.

Once Upon A Time In Montreal is a gentle 8-song assortment, sung from both Lightburn’s view as the pondering son, to his father’s imagined perspective; reminiscing on life and its finality.

Lightburn softly utilizes his crisp, unique, distinctive voice and his exceptional vocal range to present the release in what could be considered a concept album, with it’s focused storytelling and cinematic feel, which was produced by Lightburn’s old friend Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Leonard Cohen), Amongst others, Lightburn also enlisted The Dears drummer, Jeff Luciani, and Montreal saxophonist Frank Lozano, who delivered the rousing sax solo on the title track.

Once Upon A Time In Montreal feels overwhelmingly like a heartful celebration of life, created in part to help make sense of and quell the loss of a loved one.

Artist Links