RON SEXSMITH
Exit Strategy Of The Soul
(Yep Roc)
By Todd Lavoie
Modesty, thy name is Ron Sexsmith. Or, that’s the way it seems from what I’ve read, anyway. The Toronto singer-songwriter has repeatedly, gracefully brushed aside assertions by others that his work is under-recognized, stating in interviews that he has never expected a larger audience and is merely grateful for those who have discovered his work.
As wonderfully “aw, shucks” in spirit as Sexsmith’s replies might be, there’s something criminal about such a careful craftsman of sharp, insightful pop songs remaining so consistently underneath the radar over the course of a double-decade-plus career. Hell, both Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney – who, if memory serves me well, seem to have penned a couple of catchy numbers themselves over the years – have lavished praise upon the guy. That should count for something, right?
Still, things are looking up: Sexsmith’s profile has been given a nice little nudge as of late, thanks to his connection with fellow Canadian vocalist (Leslie) Feist. His lovely composition “Secret Heart” – originally on his 1995 self-titled major-label debut on Interscope, released a full decade after self-issuing his first cassette – was treated to an equally resplendent read on Feist’s 2005 breakthrough Let It Die (Arts and Crafts/Cherrytree/Interscope/Universal).