CD Reviews

Ron Sexsmith

Time Being | Ironworks

By MIKAEL WOOD | January 11, 2007

3.0 Stars

Nobody ever says anything nice about this crafty Canadian crooner without also observing that he’s nowhere near as famous as he deserves to be. Sexsmith fans love nothing more than using their hero as an example of what grown-ups who dig smart, sensitive pop should be listening to instead of Rob Thomas or Train. On his first album for Kiefer Sutherland’s new label, it’s not hard to hear why the Toronto-based folk-popster so often gets lost in the adult-contempo shuffle. His handsome melodies unfurl at their own unhurried pace, and his distinctive singing voice — a sort of quavery, half-swallowed gurgle — doesn’t do much to stoke any soulful-beefcake fantasies. But give Time Being time to be: in gorgeous, understated ballads like “Reason for Our Love,” he strikes mellow singer-songwriter gold whose old-time charms are worth savoring slowly.

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Ron Sexsmith, "All in Good Time" (Quick Time)

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