Let me start out by saying that I played the crap out of the first Love Canon album, so I was pretty excited when I heard that Volume 2 was coming. It’s the perfect thing to put on in any social situation- everyone knows and loves 80’s songs. Every time I told a friend what I was going to put on, they would say, “You’re putting on what? I’m sure the original song is so much better” and then would shut up after the music started playing. “Oh wow… this is pretty awesome,” they would then admit. This happened countless times. Love Canon’s version of “Boys of Summer” is a tune that I put on every single playlist, I can’t stop listening to it.
So let me get to Volume 2. The album starts with that unmistakable riff from “Money for Nothing” but damn, they make it sound so much more awesome by infusing it with bluegrass twang. You wouldn’t think that a male voice could pull off “Physical”, but lead singer Jesse Harper sounds great (and the guy has a serious range!). The lyrics are still hilarious, maybe even more so with banjos and mandolins behind them. In each song, Love Canon breaks into an impressive instrumental break that reminds us that they are indeed a talented bluegrass band. During “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” you suddenly find yourself listening to a Celtic- sounding jig. “Centerfold” is one of my favorites on the album. When I listened initially, I wasn’t sure what tune it was. When they broke into that familiar opening riff (with fiddles!), I found myself smiling and humming. The rest of the album remains strong, with “Whip It!” being another very amusing standout. The idea of this band is brilliant and in reality it’s even better. I once heard Jesse say at a live show that the band was started as a joke- I’m glad that they are taking it seriously enough to keep giving us music.
The only question that remains is… when is Volume 3 coming?
Photo by Suzanne McMahon
About the author: Suzanne started her love affair with photography at age 15. When she's not snapping photos, she is working as a Clinical Social Worker just outside of Boston. Suzanne also enjoys attending concerts and singing. Check out more of her photos at facebook.com/suzannedavisphotography