Royal Wood
Dear John
(Cordova Bay Records)
3.5/5
Toronto-based artist Royal Wood’s ninth album, Dear John, marries gritty blues with smooth folky hope reminding me of stomping in spilled beer on sticky tavern floors during my undergrad—a cozy place.
Dear John is a letter to the artist himself, beginning at “The End of the Road.” For fans of Bahamas and The Black Keys, this winding journey from ending back to beginning is worthwhile.
The album leans into cyclical patterns where relief takes patience. The resolve of triumphing horns on “A Good Day” feels good because we wade up to it, as “Patience” builds slowly to a crescendo of gospel choir harmonies—two highlights of the album.
Eerie strings and psychedelic organ in “Burn It Down” portray the darkest energy, eventually concluding with sounds of bright dawn: a bell tolls and rooster crows. Themes of getting lost, learning lessons, and eventual renewal weave through the album.
Royal Wood’s lyrics are deeply personal yet strikingly familiar, anchored in themes of love. Repeated exhales on “Fever” are sensual while fitting comfortably alongside introspective reflections like “Not Enough.” Dear John demonstrates the diversity we come to expect of contemporary pop singer-songwriting.
The final song, “To Be in Love,” opens with slow organ notes that sound simultaneously like a funeral and a wedding. This union of ending to beginning perfectly captures the embrace of Dear John. Raw and poetic, cycling through the seasons of life—this is essential Canadiana.