[.ca] Under Western Skies

Amazon.ca:
Gary Fjellgaard is a West Coast island-dwelling straight shooter whose lyrics celebrate everyday people going about their business. In other words, his brand of folk is strictly old school, delivered in a deep voice often reminiscent of Gordon Lightfoot's. Fjellgaard, however, seems to lack Lightfoot's pop savvy--at least on this record. So on Under Western Skies, his eighth album, Fjellgaard's lyrics, vocals, and guitar-playing carry the songs more often than do the simple, plain melodies. Often, his plainspokenness is his greatest asset. For instance, in the gung-ho "One More River Run" and the inspirational "You Don't Give Up," he sings with such conviction that it's difficult not to get caught up in his story-songs. At other times Fjellgaard's earnest delivery and hokey lyrics are too much to bear, especially on the ballad "Rock & Roll Dreams," as un-rock-and-roll as anything you might ever hope to hear. Mostly, the arrangements are spare, with a mix that pushes the Saskatchewan-born musician's acoustic guitar playing and expressive singing to the forefront. Nostalgia is the overwhelming mood, and Under Western Skies features few novel lyrical ideas and even fewer ear-catching hooks. But for those looking for the folk-music equivalent of comfort food, this is roast beef by the fire on a cold winter's night. --Shawn Conner

• On the Riverfront
• One More Pony Ride
• Glory Years
• Rhythm of Your Wings
• Rocks of Home
• You Don't Give Up
• One More River Run
• Perfect World
• Rock & Roll Dreams
• Heroes
• You Are My Song
• Under Western Skies