The fifth solo album by the Canadian artist best known for his work with Broken Social Scene reveals the breadth of his songwriting.
Rat a Tat Tat starts us off with a down-tempo acoustic guitar ballad ("Rave on Sad Songs") that defers to an accordion to forge a crescendo.
Collett turns up his amp on "Lake Superior" and blasts electrified psychedelic pop reminiscent of the Beatles' White Album. "Love Is a Dirty Word" builds a melody around a catchy bass riff. It's a reminder that Collett is as much a pop artist as a traditional singer-songwriter.
"The Slowest Dance" is an upbeat track about swaying to the sound of love. "Winnipeg Winds" brims with brooding guitar that evokes the eerie feel of an invisible natural wonder.
There are sounds for every mood here and a take-away message - Collett is a songwriter in his prime.
