The Commoners – Restless
Fair to say the last couple of years haven’t been too shabby on the music front for Canadian roots rockers The Commoners.
Following their critically acclaimed, and excellent, 2022 sophomore album Find A Better Way, 2023 saw the Toronto based band consolidate the success of that album with a slew of great live performances (including a well-received UK tour supporting Grammy-nominated duo Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton) and studio sessions for their next album.
That next album, Restless, sees the band – Chris Medhurst (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ross Hayes Citrullo (lead guitar), Ben Spiller (bass, vocals, piano), Adam Cannon (drums, percussion, vocals) – build upon the rootsy, southern styled rock (and quite Black Crowes-y) template of Find a Better Way.
Nor does it hurt that the quartet are once again joined by their good friend Miles Evans-Branagh on organ, Rhodes and, on three numbers, piano.
Opening number 'Devil Teasin' Me' is The Commoners in a four-and-half minute, southern roots meets the Black Crowes (with a splash of Blackberry Smoke and dash of Free) nutshell (not a bad set of ingredients).
A swaying, soul-drenched roots blues with a mid-tempo groove that nods to classic Motown (another, if subtler influence), 'Devil Teasin' Me' is a strong opening gambit, bolstered by a great vocal from Chris Medhurst and soulful backing from Chantal Williams, Nicky Lawrence and Sandra Bouza (who feature on most of the songs).
If the opener set the tone, then following number 'Shake You Off' sets the volume knob to eleven and ups the pace for a southern-tinged rollicking roller that has a beat so big it’s a wonder the RHC Music studio in Toronto, where the album was recorded, managed to keep its roof intact.
Punchy and semi-anthemic 'The Way I Am,' built on a guitar and Hammond riff that’s as defiant as the self-affirming lyric, shakes off the demons of 'Devil Teasin' Me' to stand proudly as a confident declaration of who you are – "It’s not the way I feel, it’s just the way I am!" declares Chris Medhurst with a vocal passion that’s tangible.
Following their critically acclaimed, and excellent, 2022 sophomore album Find A Better Way, 2023 saw the Toronto based band consolidate the success of that album with a slew of great live performances (including a well-received UK tour supporting Grammy-nominated duo Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton) and studio sessions for their next album.
That next album, Restless, sees the band – Chris Medhurst (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ross Hayes Citrullo (lead guitar), Ben Spiller (bass, vocals, piano), Adam Cannon (drums, percussion, vocals) – build upon the rootsy, southern styled rock (and quite Black Crowes-y) template of Find a Better Way.
Nor does it hurt that the quartet are once again joined by their good friend Miles Evans-Branagh on organ, Rhodes and, on three numbers, piano.
Opening number 'Devil Teasin' Me' is The Commoners in a four-and-half minute, southern roots meets the Black Crowes (with a splash of Blackberry Smoke and dash of Free) nutshell (not a bad set of ingredients).
A swaying, soul-drenched roots blues with a mid-tempo groove that nods to classic Motown (another, if subtler influence), 'Devil Teasin' Me' is a strong opening gambit, bolstered by a great vocal from Chris Medhurst and soulful backing from Chantal Williams, Nicky Lawrence and Sandra Bouza (who feature on most of the songs).
If the opener set the tone, then following number 'Shake You Off' sets the volume knob to eleven and ups the pace for a southern-tinged rollicking roller that has a beat so big it’s a wonder the RHC Music studio in Toronto, where the album was recorded, managed to keep its roof intact.
Punchy and semi-anthemic 'The Way I Am,' built on a guitar and Hammond riff that’s as defiant as the self-affirming lyric, shakes off the demons of 'Devil Teasin' Me' to stand proudly as a confident declaration of who you are – "It’s not the way I feel, it’s just the way I am!" declares Chris Medhurst with a vocal passion that’s tangible.
The life-on-the-road title track is a poignant, southern country blues that lifts from its acoustic core to soar on impassioned choruses and a great solo (and later lead interjections) from Ross Hayes Citrullo.
The song concludes on a repeated chorus refrain followed by a lovely solo piano outro from Miles Evans-Branagh. Great stuff.
'Gone Without Warning' then ups the pace and the riff-rocking ante much as 'Shake You Off' did (including another hugely impacting – in both senses – beat from Adam Cannon), but here with a gear-dropping, tempo-changing chorus that helps the song make a stronger statement than it would if keeping the power down throughout.
The band then mix Black Crowes rock and roll with a Stonesy strut for 'Who Are You' (with Ben Spiller on background piano tinkling, as he was on 'Gone Without Warning') before 'Body And Soul' offers itself up as the most interesting track on the album.
A trippy, psychedelic take on soulful, southern blues, Ross Hayes Citrullo shines on some moody slide work (and another great solo), Ben Spiller & Adam Cannon provide a commanding rhythm and Chris Medhurst almost sings himself hoarse at the conclusion, such is the impassioned delivery.
Kudos also to Miles Evans-Branagh for the subtle organ drone that underpins the number and the contributions, once again, of the backing gals.
The acoustic based, but full-bodied roots-ballad 'See You Again,' is an emotive and soulfully delivered ode to love, loss, and memories made. A genuinely touching number, its poignancy is heightened by the fact it was inspired by, and written in honour of, Adam Cannon's father, Greg, who passed away while the band were on tour in the UK in 2023.
Also carrying soulful poignacy is 'Too Soon To Know You,' which steps up as the slow build, southern rock ballad moment of the album. A tale of what might have been, and given extra weight by a lyrically contemplative breakdown section, the song then builds back up before fading out on a repeated chorus cry of its title.
Bare-bones acoustic guitar and vocal number 'All That We Have' acts as both a lovely closing piece and a poignant, musical afterword that lyrically highlights just what, and who, is important in life ("that’s the way it’ll be, and that’s all right, just grow older with me").
Well produced and carrying a great mix from Ross Hayes Citrullo and Renan Yildizdogan (who also contributes through half-a-dozen co-writes) Restless sounds as good as the songs are performed.
The Black Crowes influences are, at times, so on the nose it’s a wonder Chris & Rich Robinson don’t feel their nasal bones cracking, but that shouldn’t detract from what is another strong and purposeful offering from one of the best roots rock bands in the business.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
The song concludes on a repeated chorus refrain followed by a lovely solo piano outro from Miles Evans-Branagh. Great stuff.
'Gone Without Warning' then ups the pace and the riff-rocking ante much as 'Shake You Off' did (including another hugely impacting – in both senses – beat from Adam Cannon), but here with a gear-dropping, tempo-changing chorus that helps the song make a stronger statement than it would if keeping the power down throughout.
The band then mix Black Crowes rock and roll with a Stonesy strut for 'Who Are You' (with Ben Spiller on background piano tinkling, as he was on 'Gone Without Warning') before 'Body And Soul' offers itself up as the most interesting track on the album.
A trippy, psychedelic take on soulful, southern blues, Ross Hayes Citrullo shines on some moody slide work (and another great solo), Ben Spiller & Adam Cannon provide a commanding rhythm and Chris Medhurst almost sings himself hoarse at the conclusion, such is the impassioned delivery.
Kudos also to Miles Evans-Branagh for the subtle organ drone that underpins the number and the contributions, once again, of the backing gals.
The acoustic based, but full-bodied roots-ballad 'See You Again,' is an emotive and soulfully delivered ode to love, loss, and memories made. A genuinely touching number, its poignancy is heightened by the fact it was inspired by, and written in honour of, Adam Cannon's father, Greg, who passed away while the band were on tour in the UK in 2023.
Also carrying soulful poignacy is 'Too Soon To Know You,' which steps up as the slow build, southern rock ballad moment of the album. A tale of what might have been, and given extra weight by a lyrically contemplative breakdown section, the song then builds back up before fading out on a repeated chorus cry of its title.
Bare-bones acoustic guitar and vocal number 'All That We Have' acts as both a lovely closing piece and a poignant, musical afterword that lyrically highlights just what, and who, is important in life ("that’s the way it’ll be, and that’s all right, just grow older with me").
Well produced and carrying a great mix from Ross Hayes Citrullo and Renan Yildizdogan (who also contributes through half-a-dozen co-writes) Restless sounds as good as the songs are performed.
The Black Crowes influences are, at times, so on the nose it’s a wonder Chris & Rich Robinson don’t feel their nasal bones cracking, but that shouldn’t detract from what is another strong and purposeful offering from one of the best roots rock bands in the business.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ