Gordie Tentrees
Less Is More
Buckaroo Records
Another Canadian Showing Us How to Write and Sing Great Americana Songs.
Why have I never heard of Gordie Tentrees before? He’s won Juno Awards, this is his SIXTH album and (my favourite fact) he is a 3 x Golden Gloves winning ex-boxer!
Let’s forget the past and stick with the present; this exceptional acoustic album of eleven self-penned songs.
One of the games my mates and I play (it’s in Hi-Fidelity too) is ‘Best Opening Tracks’ – well I’ve got a trump card with Tentrees’ (alongside Oliver Greer) Love In Ink! A very personal tale of a father working his fingers to the bone working a farm to make ends meet and have something to leave to his sons. The detail Tentrees includes is exceptional; and the rolling guitar and pedal-steel will sting your eyes as the story builds to a well constructed climax (#spoiler – it’s not a happy ending). Not afraid to use a melody to diffuse some of the darker tones here Tentrees really excels on Deadbeat Dad and the excellent Broken Hero; plus his way with words on Less is More will certainly make you think of Townes Van Zandt and Mary Gauthier whom he name checks.
Finding a favourite song is difficult as each I’ve mentioned previously have their merits as does the Hill-Country Keno City, the sad Alt. Country of Wrong Town; but if I can’t pick Love is Ink I’m plumping for the sweet Lost Guitar which has ‘earworm’ qualities and had me whispering the chorus
hours after turning the player off.
This is Blue Collar Americana-Folk music at it’s very finest; owing more to Slaid Cleaves and Otis Gibbs than Bruce Springsteen with Gordie Tentrees proving he has talent in abundance, singing, songwriting,guitar picking and; according to my wife, he is ‘very easy on the eye’ too!
UK Release 6th November 2015
Canada Release April 2015
The Rocking Magpie 