Buck 65
20 Odd Years
20 Odd Years is a fitting title for the new record from the husky-voiced Buck 65, one of Canada’s strangest and most dynamic lyricists. His catalogue has covered everything from backwoods isolation to the Situationist International movement of decades past. Recently Buck’s modus operandi has shifted towards (in his own words): “making the most beautiful music possible.” This philosophy, which has yielded both depressing and gorgeous results, illuminates Buck’s surprisingly-uplifting new album. Tales of his long distance relationship with an Americano and eventual marriage translate into some captivating pieces, “Paper Airplane” and “She Said Yes,” accompanied by Jenn Grant’s lovely crooning on the former.
Even the few downer moments on the record are eclipsed by their own aural brilliance. Buck relays the saga of a man pleading with the ocean to return his drowned wife on the Gord Downie-featuring “Whispers of the Waves.” On “Gee Whiz,” Buck solemnly reflects on his years living in Paris and speaking to Picasso’s Apollinaire statue in the park when feeling alone. Staying true to his weirdo roots, he even manages to rap about the zombie apocalypse (”Zombie Delight“) and cover Leonard Cohen (”Who By Fire”) on the same record. Two decades plus into his career, Buck remains a man who wears many hats and wears them well.
Song you will remember in five years: “Paper Airplane”
Lyrics you will remember in five years: “Feed me your agonies, your riches and voices / Trust past against me, and offer me choices / Stronger than fire, the cancer is slow / Your tears are like mine, but the answer is no.” (from “Whispers of the Waves”)
[...] to his east coast jaunt this month, he will be touring the west side in August in support of 20 Odd Years. His newest single “Paper Airplane”, featuring Jenn Grant, is now available for free [...]