New Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene) - "Out Of Time" and "Charlyn, Angel of Kensington"

Download: Jason Collett - "Out Of Time"
Download: Jason Collett - "Charlyn, Angel of Kensington"

Jayber Crow wasn't the only folk band releasing new tracks this past week. Jason Collett, who is gearing up for the release of Here's To Being Here, which will be out on Arts & Crafts on February 5.

The first of the new tracks is "Out Of Time," a Dylan-esque (just you try to not read Dylan into his vox) folk popper that incorporates "ooh-ooh"s that come off just a little Feist-y in their sudden, radical pitch modulation. It's a good song, but not a phenomenal one. "Charlyn, Angel of Kensington," the other release, is an interesting track with a very deep groove. It's got a sexy, pseudo-lounge-circa-"Mushaboom" beat backing up funky guitars and a vocal line that hits a bit of Andrew Bird and definitely channels Dylan. I hate to compare him so often to fellow Broken Social Scenester Feist, but he's been on a couple tours with her. It seems to me that these songs have more of her influence than past albums.

I think these two songs hit on the best and worst aspects of Collett's career. His previous albums have always contained strong, but not terribly original showings. I don't like it when the primary way I can describe someone's music is by name checking other groups. I think that should be a tool to augment a description, rather than the description itself. Likewise with these two tracks: they're strong, and I love to spin his records, but they're a little too derivative.

Collett, however, is a great performer. I bought Idols of Exile after totally developing a crush on him when he opened for Feist a couple years back. He's doing a little bit of touring with her again this month. Dates are below.

11.14.07 Denver – Ogden Theatre
11.16.07 Madison – Orpheum Theatre
11.17.07 Chicago – Riviera Theatre
11.18.07 Columbus – Wexner Center
11.20.07 Louisville – W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre
11.21.07 Nashville – Ryman Auditorium

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(April Wright)