[.ca] Rhythm of Love

Amazon.ca:
Opening with a blast of raunchy gut-bucket blues that sounds like something spat out of Tom Waits's Bone Machine, Rhythm of Love is a far more adventurous album than fans of Montreal-born rocker David Wilcox have come to expect. His first for the Stony Plain imprint, Rhythm of Love is also his most accomplished and engaging disc since his early-'80s heyday as one of the nation's top rock acts. Wilcox gets great assistance from a wide variety of guests, as well as from producer Colin Linden, Bruce Cockburn's regular collaborator and Wilcox's bandmate from his days with Canadian blues-rockers the Teddybears. On the swaggering title track, Wilcox makes a fine ruckus with Linden, former Junkhouse/Crash Vegas singer-guitarist Colin Cripps, and Big Wreck singer Ian Thornley, and the pretty "High Water Rising" features a lovely contribution by singer Sarah Harmer. Wilcox also finds good foils in drummer Jorn Andersen and bassist David Rose. But much of the credit for the strength of Rhythm of Love must go to Wilcox himself. Songs like the opening "Hook It Boy," "Three Men," and "I Need a Vice"--in which he admits, "Everything fun is bad for my heart"--benefit from both his sharp wit as a songwriter and his speed and flair as a guitarist. Wilcox applies himself with equal vigour to everything from the angry stomp of "Hook It Boy" to "Play that Guitar Rag," an acoustic country-blues ditty that is anything but a "slow drag." --Jason Anderson

Danger! Danger! Read the label Carefully!:
This IS NOT David Wilcox, the artist you know and love who brought you "How Did You Find Me Here," "Big Horizon," "East Asheville Hardware," and "What You Whispered." There are TWO David Wilcoxes. The one who sang in all those CD's is from the U.S., the one who sings in "Rhythm Of Love" is from Toronto, Canada. Their styles are MILES apart. You may not like one if you like the other. I happen to like both. David Wilcox (from Toronto, are we on the same page, now?) is a driving rock/blues guitarist. With 6 previous albums, three greatest hits compilations and a 3-CD box set, David Wilcox is one of the steadiest selling rock artists in Canada. RHYTHM OF LOVE is contemporary rock, with Wilcox's unique, unusual, offbeat, humorous and eclectic take on the blues. David Wilcox is a brilliant entertainer. David Wilcox is a great guitar player. David Wilcox is unique, a natural. David Wilcox is a soulful songwriter/singer. David Wilcox first made his name as a solid showman, then as a rockin' axemaster. Ultimately, he has proved his worth as a multifaceted creative force. David Wilcox continues to make original eclectic music that you really ought to hear. But at this point, after more than 20 years of music-making-including many tours, numerous gold and platinum albums, a hatful of awards and nominations, and countless fans-it's no stretch to say that David Wilcox deserves consideration as a Rock Icon. The only trouble is that few people "south of the border" know who he is. Except in a few border towns, it seems folks are getting him mixed up with that other David Wilcox, a singer-songwriter who's much younger and sounds a lot prettier.

• Hook It Boy
• High Water Rising
• Rhythm of Love
• I Need a Vice
• Easy Like Rain
• Three Women/Long Tall Sally/Handsome Molly/Sally Gooding
• Mama
• Three Men
• Already Got What You Need
• Broken Trees
• Rattlesnakin' Daddy
• Play That Guitar Rag