REVIEW: Patrick Watson - Adventures In Your Own Backyard

Patrick Watson - Adventures In the Backyard

The backyard seems like the place you’d find some sort of oasis from what lies beyond your front door, especially as a kid. But aging has a funny way of making the magic of the backyard seem like child’s play, a distant memory. Times when dreams felt more authentic than reality feel so distant from now. And yet, Montreal singer/songwriter Patrick Watson makes it feel as though this dreamful embrace isn’t all that far-fetched with his new album, Adventures In Your Own Backyard.

SEE & HEAR: Patrick Watson - "Into Giants"

Montreal singer/songwriter Patrick Watson's new album, Adventures In Your Own Backyard, was released today via Domino (Secret City released it in Canada on April 16th), and from the album we have "Into Giants" to share. It's a lovely tune that starts with gentle acoustic guitar and dashes of piano before sprouting into something rather sprawling. It's a song about the infinite possibilities love can provide, capturing both the beauty, depth, and magnitude of love's character. And with the entrance of some triumphant horns in its final chapter, everything sounds all the more wondrous.

SEE & HEAR: Spiritualized - "Hey Jane"

In case you didn't happen to hear the good news, Spiritualized will be releasing a new album April 16th entitled Sweet Heart Sweet Light. No, the image above isn't included for irony or just because it's nice to include a picture with my silly, little write-ups. What you see above is the official cover art for the aforementioned Spiritualized album. Jason Pierce (or J Spaceman, if you prefer) and co. have had this record in the oven for about two years, apparently -- not to mention the other year Pierce spent mixing the album. So, why wait any longer? Hear album track "Hey Jane" below. It's the first release from the new LP, and it's everything you could hope for: an epic, just under nine minute slab of Britpop/neo-psychedelia excellence. I can't say I'm an expert when it comes to Spiritualized, but I feel comfortable enough to say that Jason Pierce knows how to tastefully handle his ambition.