“I hope you find something in these 13 stories” is what Billy Raffoul posted on his Instagram as he released his new album this morning.
I say “new album” but I’m not even sure what this is if I’m being honest. Is it his debut? Or did A Few More Hours at YYZ count as his debut? Or was that an EP? I’m lost.
Anyway that doesn’t matter, the album is here and it totally blew me away this morning at midnight when I first hit the play button on it. Time to have a wee blether about it – with the same rules applying throughout – I only got 40 minutes from…now!
I discovered Billy when he released ‘1975’ a few years back. That EP is still a regular on my car playlist and is probably his most successful one to date. I’ve been a keen follower since then and this album is probably the best time to be a Billy Raffoul fan.
We are introduced (or checked in!) to the album by the title track. His very distinctive voice bursts in from nowhere and the scene is set for the rest of the album – that voice and an acoustic guitar which he seems to be battering in this first song. Think of how hard Weller plays the acoustic during “That’s Entertainment” and you’ll get the idea.
“What Makes A Man” was the first single released from the album. It had me searching the house for my harmonica straight away – don’t know why cause I can barely play! Despite its gentle nature, I can picture it being transformed into a football chant once we are allowed back into stadiums. That’s what happens when you write a song with the opening line – “You should have gotten three points”
“I remember late night drives, fast food and French fries/you play One Direction songs and I pretend to mime” –
Lyrically “Philadelphia” is one of his best. Another example of how Billy can take 4 chords and transform them into something special with amazing lyrics and melody.
I love the arpeggios at the start of “Everything Marie” It’s certainly one of those songs (a bit like 1975) where Billy almost seems to be whispering the song rather than singing it. It actually sounds like it should be on Brian Fallon’s Local Honey from earlier this year. Brilliant stuff.
“Sundown on County Line” is the first big change of tone on the album. No more sweet sounding progressions and gentle lyrics. That guitar riff creates a sense of impeding doom at times and it’s repetition is verging on scary. We got some nice slide guitar in there too so you obviously know I’m going to be a fan.
“Right Behind You” keeps that mood going a little bit longer. “When darkness surrounds you” is the opening line so that’s a bit of a hint.
Back to the slightly more mellow times with “Library Book”. Falsetto that puts Billy up there with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. “If your heart is like a library book / I’ll wait till the day he takes it back” This album is filled to the brim with incredible lyrics and imagery and this one is one of the best.
“The Ballad of James Howlett” – not sure if he is writing about Wolverine here or not but it sounds like it could be the soundtrack for a Marvel film or even a bond film – “Pity the man who can never die” – seems really fitting for 007.
“Keep your eyes on the shoreline, your feet dancing in the sand” is Billy’s message to “Shannon” It actually sounds like a song that would be sung around a campfire on the beach in the middle of summer…well maybe not this summer anyway.
The harmonica is back in “Big City” and I’m so glad it is. As a borderer who’s spent the last 4 years of his life in the big city, this song is incredibly relatable at times – “Babe ain’t it easy, to get lonely in a big city”
The short ballad “You & I” follows on with one of my favourite songs on the album just behind it. “Truth Be Told (I Like You)” – some 12 bar bluesy acoustic guitar. That riff after the chorus is just so good, I swear I’ve listened to that section of the song more than anything else on that album so far. Can’t wait for pub sessions to start again cause I think that one will be on my list now.
So we’ve come to the end. Only “Massey Hall” left before our holiday at the International Hotel comes to an end – hopefully we don’t have to quarantine!
“And if I break down am I less of a man? If that’s the case, well I’m an infant” This song is a beautiful conclusion to an album that is going to be a big part of my life over the next little while.
I would love to know if Billy recorded this during lockdown. 99% of the time it’s just him and a guitar, that is probably when he is at his best.
Time out already. Christ
Cheers
RB