When the frontperson of a band releases the odd solo record, there’s always the question as to whether or not it was necessary, whether or not he or she could have just folded it into the main band. Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene (QRO spotlight on) admitted this much at a recent BSS show (QRO live review) when talking about his new solo album, Aging, and said he had to be convinced by his fellow Scenesters to “just put it out.” And thankfully he did, as it showcases an intimate, slow burn Drew.
Yes, Aging, is an album about getting older, time marching on, mortality and all that, which leads to a number of slow burn songs – but ones that go in different directions. There’s the growing, glowing earned hope of “All Your Fails” and “Fixing the Again”, but also the slow, sad closes of “Party Oven” and closer “You’re Gonna Get Better”. There’s the even the evocative anthem for those who have left us (for Drew, his recently-passed mother) in “Out In the Fields”.
Even the boyishly handsome, Paul Rudd-looking frontman Kevin Drew is getting older, but that has just widened & deepened his sonic repertoire. Aging like fine wine.
