City and Colour – If I Should Go Before You (Dine Alone Records, 2015)
City and Colour, the solo project of Canada’s favourite geographical and hue-named singer-songwriter Dallas Green, is back with its fifth studio album. Green mixes his time-tested formula of blues rock, country rock and acoustic ballads to create an album that holds no surprises for fans. The nine-minute track, “Woman,” stands out as the most perplexing track on the album; though it may test some listeners’ patience due to its repetition, the tune is mighty effective as a relaxing semi-psychedelic profession of undying love. The album’s title track is a smooth blues song that hits all the right notes, with dark yet romantic lyrics to boot. If you’ve been chomping at the bit for more cathartic indie folk, then this one is for you. If you haven’t liked Dallas Green since he parted with Alexisonfire, your time is better spent elsewhere.
Trial Track: “If I Should Go Before You”
7/10
