I’ve been a fan of Our Lady Peace since I was in 9th grade. Spiritual Machines had just come out, and to my angsty teenage mind their new single “Life” seemed like the most poignant song in the history of mankind.

I then went out and bought every single album in their catalog. Bought. Legitimately bought. I was in love.

This love was not short lived. It flourished and thrived and with every new album came a gleeful trip to the store. 2006 was the last year an Our Lady Peace album was released. I keep looking, though. Fingers crossed, hoping.

There hasn’t been any.

Raine Maida must have been sensing my inner turmoil, and to appease me he released a solo venture.

Only I missed it.

2007 saw his solo album “The Hunter’s Lullaby” released, but I didn’t see it until a little while ago. Sometimes I get so bogged down with music I end up missing those musicians I love the most.

Luckily, my co-conspirator on this website asked me if there were any albums I wanted. He was placing a music order (for real, honest, tangible CDs). I ran through my staple loves, looking for new music. First time I’ve done that in a while, and was intrigued to see new Raine Maida. I mentioned it, and Jacob was good enough to get it.

If you’ve never thought of combining folk and hip-hop, you’re probably in good company. Thankfully, that company doesn’t include Raine.

The album is definitely distinct from the music of Our Lady Peace. Raine takes to talking for most of the album, falling into a 1970’s performance poem kind of feel.

This fits perfect since Raine writes very poetically driven music, and hearing it presented in this manner feels perfectly natural… Except I feel as if Raine really wanted to rap, but knew that it just wouldn’t work out well for him. I can sense restraint in his talking/singing. I’m okay with it.

Elements of folk and hip-hop merge seamlessly here on this album. Acoustic instruments and hip-hop drums. Piano. Strings. This album really covers the gauntlet, though the folk and hip-hop are really the most overwhelming of influences.

The album also has a song that fills into my niche playlist of “clapping”, which makes me happy. More on that later.

The album is a solid album, in my opinion. I just have one minor qualm: it’s just a bit more than ‘chill’, but just shy of being ‘high-energy.’

I wish the tempo of most of the songs was upped just a bit. As always, this is just my personal preference. I like fast. I like high-energy. Or, I like music that I can happily nap to. This doesn’t really fit either bill, but I still definitely enjoy.

This album also may contain the only song to mention the creators of South Park. Positively. Raine Maida is Canadian, but apparently thinks nothing of an occasional jab at his heritage.

What to take away?

This album is nothing like Our Lady Peace, but that’s okay.

What to expect?

Folk and hip-hop with Raine Maida talking over it.

Drink to pair with it?

I feel like this music is perfect for a cafe, especially a European one. But black coffee doesn’t fit the bill. I’m going to have to say a Hot Toddy. I think Hot Balzam and Black Current Juice.

Favorite Song?

It’s gonna have to be the single “Yellow Brick Road“. It’s one of the faster paced and catchier of the songs on the album. If more of the songs on the album had a similar tempo to this I’d be extremely pleased.