Review Summary: Raine Maida releases the album of the year.
No longer bound by the confines of a major record label in Our Lady Peace, Raine Maida's debut solo album was intended to be a departure from the arena rock leanings of the singer's band. It was supposed to be a more creative venture from the man who helped pen hits like Superman's Dead, Somewhere Out There. And while it may seem like Maida's hitting some sort of musician-mid-life-crisis, The Hunters Lullaby is much more than that. Unique in its delivery, Maida's first full length album features the singer charting fairly new territory, and features some of his best song writing since Our Lady Peace's 1999 album, Happiness Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch.
Dark and moody, The Hunters Lullaby is Raine Maida's foray into stripped down alternative rock. Throughout its brief runtime, the record makes use of very little instrumentation, opting for a greater emphasis on half sung half spoken vocal passages over infectious beats, acoustic guitar, carefully placed piano pieces (performed by Raine's wife, Chantal Kreviazuk) and at times guitar synths. Such instrumental leanings work out extremely well, as album highlight Sex Love and Honey, as well as Careful What You Wish For, and Confessional imply, as the album strives more for a more complete song rather than a catchy hit single (well, okay, Yellow Brick Road is definitely a poppy offering, but it's a fun song all the same). That said, as well constructed as the LP's song structures are, the definite highlight of The Hunters Lullaby is Maida's performance behind the mic. The only real element off the album which reflects latter day Our Lady Peace, Maida's performance features him making use of a straightforward, down to earth singing style. Though he doesn't really experiment vocally the way he does instrumentally the slam poetry style he employs is fresh, interesting and helps Maida maintain a more intimate connection with the listener. Songs like Earthless, The Snake and the Crown, and Rat Race each showcase Maida at his most laidback, and help portray his poetic musings exceedingly well.
Low-key and a great deal more relaxed than anything Our Lady Peace has written (with the possible exception of Al Genina (Leave the Light On), the closing track off the band's latest album) The Hunters Lullaby is a superb offering from one of Canada's finest singers. A bit of a break from the commercial tendencies of his main band, Raine Maida's first full length solo album is a fairly haunting record which places a greater importance on beatnik, slam poem influenced vocal lines and sparse instrumental leanings. Though the album is exceptionally short at only thirty-four minutes, The Hunters Lullaby compensates listeners through the notable lack of filler (or any weak track at all, really), as each song on the LP fulfils its purpose extremely well, particularly on the enjoyment scale. Pending any Fair to Midland-esque surprise to be released in the next month and a half, it's undoubtable that with The Hunters Lullaby, Raine Maida has released the album of the year.
Now go finish writing Our Lady Peace's next album.
