I'm sure there are a lot of music fans that skim by this section and shake their heads in puzzlement at the strange albums we see fit to review. By it's nature this page is devoted to current releases, most of which, admittedly, are aimed at a younger audience and are mainly of the so called alternative-rock variety.

If you're not exactly sure what alternative rock is, don't worry about it, neither is anybody else, the term is no longer any more useful as a description as rock and roll. Among the first wave of bands labeled as alternative would be R.E.M. (who have commonly been compared to rock and roll hall-of-famers The Byrds). Similarly, Pearl Jam, one of the most notable alternative bands is often compared to Neil Young; and Yield, their fantastic new release borrows from Led Zeppelin and the Beatles..

The point of this lengthy preamble is that a good song is a good song--whether it's a Sinatra love song or a Courtney Love song. Allow me to introduce you to a gentleman whom you've likely never heard of, whose music bridges all of these genres and decades and epitomizes the concept of the good song--Ron Sexsmith. Yes it's his real name.

Think of some of your favorite slower songs by Paul Simon, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, John Prine, accompanied by acoustic guitar maybe a little piano and bass, that's the kind of songs Ron writes and sings. Songs that speak with a big heart and an agile mind, set to simple haunting melodies. Pretty songs, for lack of a better word, the kind that most everybody loves, whether or not they'll admit it.

Though possessing a rather fey and unusual voice eventually it serves to endear all the more.

The two more-or-less self-titled CD's (his first from 1995, and the newest Other Songs released in 97), are produced by the illustrious Mitchell Froom, and the players read like an all-star team, (i.e. Sheryl Crow plays the accordion). Which suggests the esteem he is accorded within the musical community. If I had the room I'd quote some of his lyrics for you, and go on and on about the Joy of Sexsmith.