After witnessing a devastating croonappelic version of Mr. Savage’s hit Kisses Like a Girl, I opted out of waiting for the 12″ vinyl version of Spread Free Like a Butterfly (December 2009 on Arbutus Records) and copped the CDR for hasty highway blastery. And sure enough, within moments Savage’s Orbisinian vibrato and fetching harmonies had me rolling the windows and screaming all the lyrics; pop drive-byes delivered to unsuspecting underage women Edmonton-wide. Sean’s writing has never been better, with his charismatic strangeness texturizing the relationships around him; awkward memories hidden beneath sun-bleached family photos and obscure grad quotes (or at least that’s what it conjures in my mind). It’s a landmark album refusing to languish in any genre; basement lonertude, campfire balladry, dreamy soft-psych, and, most importantly, hit-making. There is a reason I chose Sean Nicholas Savage as the first Weird Canada review.
Sean Nicholas Savage – Heart Wish
Sean Nicholas Savage – Kisses Like A Girl
Sean Nicholas Savage – Grandson