Luke Doucet & The White Falcon: Blood's Too Rich

Luke Doucet is back, this time sharing the moniker spotlight with his band The White Falcon. Whereas his previous release Broken (And Other Rogue States) revelled in the sweet melancholia of a heartsick poet, Blood's Too Rich has a tougher, dustier exterior. It's the seventh album from Doucet, who is husband to White Falcon band member Melissa McClelland and label/tour mate to Justin Rutledge.



The opener "Long Haul Driver" is the sexy, smoky wild child of C.W. Mccall's "Convoy", while the catchy Americana "Blood's Too Rich" has shades of Springsteen by way of Ryan Adams. A slightly distorted but still very upbeat rendition of The Cure's "The Lovecats" provides a sunny interlude. Doucet's daughter Chloë sings on the cover as well as the moody finale "Bombs Away".

"First Day (In The New Hometown)" is a rousing display Western soul, "Take You Home" has a simmering "Crimson and Clover" (Joan Jett version) retro rock riff, and "The Commandante" is drenched in Latin brass, string, and piano embellishments that would do Alejandro proud.

The stand out track "The Day Rick Danko Died" is a gonzo melting pot of hillbilly washboard pluck and bluesy rock grind. The song would be equally fitting on an old Led Zeppelin album or a new release by Reverend Peyton.

Luke Doucet Official Site

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Melissa McClelland: Thumbelina's One Night Stand

Melissa McClelland is the wife of Luke Doucet, who produced and played on her 2006 release. Melissa was previously a background singer for Sarah McLachlan, who joins the husband and wife team on Thumbelina's One Night Stand. I won't be surprised if comparisons are drawn between the two female Canadian singer-songwriters, but I think McClelland's pretty avant-garde style is more akin to Megan Palmer. Thumbelina's One Night Stand is a darkly twisted and beautiful fairytale.



In addition to producing Thumbelina's One Night Stand, Luke Doucet contributes backing vocals, vibes, wurlitzer, piano, pedal steel, pump organ, harmonica, guitars, and percussion. Banjo, melotron, chamberlain, trumpet, French horn, Celtic harp, alto and baritone sax are also present, among several other instruments and sound effects.

"Passenger 24" rips open this album with a saucy, dusty piano and pedal steel hum beneath Melissa's velvet chanteuse voice. Then "Iroquis Street Factory" softens the mood with a jazzy cabaret fable centered around factory workers. The languid "Dayton Ohio, 1903" was written by Randy Newman. The album also includes two bonus tracks mixed by Jeff Trott.

Other songs on Thumbelina's One Night Stand alternate between ethereal Sarah Mclachlan pop, smooth Madeleine Peyroux jazz, lilting Jenny Lewis indie-rock, and an indescribable, beautifully creepy blues that belongs in New Orleans or some Deep South swamp. The latter description is especially fitting for the eerie twang of "Go Down Matthew", which features vocals by Sarah Mclachlan.

I was not granted permission to share an mp3, but you can hear samples from the album at Melissa's MySpace page.

Melissa McClelland Official Site

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Luke Doucet: Broken (and Other Rogue States)

Someone sure broke Luke Doucet's heart, the poor boy. But fortunately for the rest of the world, he turned his pain into art. Broken (and Other Rogue States) is a fantastic collection of heartbreak, melancholy, bitterness, humour, alcohol, and poetry. Not to mention acoustic, electric, and pedal steel guitars, banjo and various stringed instruments, glockenspiel, organ, hand claps and other percussion, as well as a selection of guest musicians that includes the band Oh Susanna. This is an album to get lost in, particularly if your heart has ever been battered by a lost love. But don't shy away from the album if you're wary of its emotional subject matter, the music has enough rock punch and indie-pop flavour to appeal to hearts in any condition.



Doucet's throaty vocals are accompanied by guest singer NQ Arbuckle on the opening track. "Brother" has an eerie twang beneath its strong drum thump and grinding guitar. It's a deceptively hard beginning considering the emotive lyrics and upbeat pop-rock tone of other tracks.

The lyrics of "Broken One" could join Ani Difranco's "Dilate" in the post-break up hall of fame, but the song is thankfully kept from falling into the brink of depression by a very catchy beat.

An answering machine message provides the only vocal on the tinkling piano and hand clap instrumental "Stumbling Gingerly Back to Emily's Apartment".

"Emily, Please" is a highlight with a trumpet edged sway and wailing guitar that would not be out of place in a David Lynch film. "Lucky Strikes" has an echoing indie-pop hook. The bare boned acoustics of "Wallow" allow it to live up to the emotional turmoil of its title and lyrics.

"It's Not The Liquor I Miss" picks the mood and tempo back up with hand claps, singing strings, blaring saxophone, and the sweet back up vocals of Chloe Doucet-Winkelman.

The bluesy guitar of "One Too Many" is tempered by a foot tappin' alterna-country beat and the harmony vocals of Alli Bartlett. NQ Arbuckle returns for the brassy burst of "Vladivostok".

The Sufjanesque "if i drop names of exotic towns that you'll never see, in the the songs that i write, it's that that's all i have when i miss my girl & you're taking yours home tonight" is only as long as its title.

"Free" is another catchy, swaggering gem. "No Love To Be Made Here Now" temporarily slides back into somber acoustics before rising on atmospheric strings.

"Keep Her Away From Me" takes this grand album out with a stomping blues beat.

Luke Doucet's Official Site
Luke on MySpace

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