Jimmy is back!
09/20/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"According to legend...when the world was being born the coyotes were howling at the universe, and they were called "Song Dogs." Jimmy Rankin felt it was a good analogy to artists and songwriters, who are basically just storytellers telling their stories to the world and chose to use this as the title of his CD. Jimmy's a "Song Dog" for sure! Combining 12 songs with very strong, well-written lyrics, this is a CD that is going to put Jimmy Rankin on the Canadian Songwriters Map, more so than he already is! Many of you will recognize Jimmy Rankin as the lead singer & song-writer for The Rankin Family (later The Rankins) from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. They were one of the groups who paved the way for the popularity of Celtic music from the east coast, especially with the younger generation these days.After 10 years of success and touring around the world, the band decided to call it quits in late 1999. Jimmy says "we'd all reached a time in our lives where we were working on different projects already and it just seemed like the best time to stop." Raylene had a young family, Heather was focussing on an acting career, Cookie was settling down and John Morris wanted to spend time at home with his family. Sadly, John Morris' plans were made all too short when he was killed in a car accident in January 2000. This is still a topic that is too close to heart for any of the members to discuss publicly. However, as a tribute, Jimmy has dedicated "Song Dog" to the memory of his older brother.Jimmy has always been the primary songwriter for the Rankins, and it's like the words just pour out of life's happenings and onto paper and the stage. That's the case with "Song Dog." 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."Followed Her Around", the first track and single from the CD, starts the CD off with a bang and is sure to peak your interest from start to beginning. It talks about an obsessive relationship with someone that is more fantasy than reality! Already the single is climbing up the radio charts in Canada, both country and pop, and the video is receiving plenty of airplay on CMT Canada and MuchMoreMusic.Fans of the Rankins are sure to recognize "Tripper", a tune that Jimmy has performed on occasion in the past, either at solo engagements or on tour. Based on a true story, this song recalls the loss of a friend at a young age and the time dealing with it. The song has a "rambler" feel to it, which is evident in many of Jimmy's compositions. It reminds me of "The Ballad of Malcolm Murray" from the Rankins limited edition CD "Grey Dusk of Eve."Tripper falls in the midst of four tunes in the middle of the album that Rankin calls his "Maritime moment" - an acoustic section that pays homage to his roots and speaks of troubled times, destitution and our legendary resilience.With only a couple of paragraphs to it, "Lighthouse Heart" is a short tune but very poignant...the piano interlude, reminiscent of John Morris' style, connects the song. "Lighthouse Heart" is a beacon of tenderness, a beautiful love song that makes no apology for its warmth or its sentiment."This Is The Hour", a story about Maritimes who headed west on the "Harvest Trains" to find work, is just Jimmy and his guitar...you don't really need anything else to hear the message and the words of the song stand out. Everyone should be able to relate to this song...having to leave your hometown to move away to find work.Don't think Jimmy has abandoned his family though...sister Cookie Rankin appears throughout the CD singing back-up vocals on several tracks. Other singers featured on the CD include Cassandra Vasik, Joel Feeney and Blue Rodeo's "Greg Keelor."For those fans of the Rankins, who have missed hearing anything new in a few years, this CD is sure to be a must-have in your collection. And for those new to the music, this is a great collection of songs to listen to and really make you think. And I'd recommend going out and purchasing some of the Rankins previous albums and hear some more of Jimmy's fine songwriting skills.Look for Jimmy this fall touring Canada from coast to coast in support of this CD!"
Finally! The Long Awaited Solo Debut - Worth The Wait
Supernova | Canada | 08/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Long before The Rankin's final CD was released, the glue, the creative force behind the group, Jimmy Rankin, was touted as a great solo artist. When the group DID call it quits in 1999, one expected Rankin to head straight into the recording studio to continue the momentum of the popular Rankin group. That never happened. It has taken 2 1/2 years for Rankin to unleash his creative solo force. Jimmy is one heck of a singer and an even better songwriter. On this disc, Rankin is allowed to showcase that tremendous talent. The heavenly voices of the Rankin sisters are never far away though, as Cookie lends her background vocals to several tracks. The leadoff track and first single "Followed Her Around" is Rankin at his rollicking best. This same tempo and bluesy free-wheeling style that makes Jimmy such a treat to listen to is also heard on the satisfying tracks "Stoned Blue", "Drunk And Crucified" and "Wasted". Fans of Jimmy Rankin the singer/songwriter will love this. However, fans of the sweet and innocent early days of the Rankin Family will gape eyes wide open as Jimmy explores and firmly plants his feet into the genre of alt-country. This is no country album. This is no rock album. The music speaks for itself. Producer Tim Thorney has created a satisfying rollicking roots/rock debut. This is really a continuation of where The Rankin's "Uprooted" left off - the next logical step, a natural progression of growth and creativity."
Outstanding!
ryad | Oak Harbor, WA USA | 09/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I heard "Followed Her Around" on Canadian country radio, with the exception of the last verse (simply because I am not old enough to relate) that song is almost a blow by blow account of my high school days. Pretty cool, well on the strength of that song, I bought album.
I had no idea what I was in for. First of all, the second track "Midnight Angel" totally blew me out of the water. No pun intended. I think it hit a little closer to home because I happen to live in a "harbor town" but still, wow, I can hardly stand it. An amazing song no matter where you live.
The list goes on, there is not one song on this album that I did not throughly enjoy and hope the world hears.
Strangely enough, my favorite song on this album is not any I have heard on the radio. It is "Will Carry On" that song rocks, the song speaks of fishermen, east coast commercial fishermen I am guessing, and carrying on the tradition despite all the hardships that come with it, and the song really becomes a metaphor for life awesome, it sounds familiar, as if I had heard it somewhere before. It really puts me in mind of Billy Joel's song "Downeaster Alexa" off Billy's "Stormfront" album.
I find it hard to classify Jimmy's music as country, it has a country feel, but I would put it closer to folk/rock. Well label it if you must, but it's just good music. I can't imagine anyone but Snoop Dawg fans being disappointed.
I enthusiastically look forward to anything else Mr. Rankin decides to create."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1