“I can do whatever I damn well please,” proclaims Ron Sexsmith calmly on his latest standout album, voicing steely defiance with typical restraint. Regardless of his sentiments, which can range from placid to fraught, he wraps them in such lovely melodies that it’s easy to mistake these thoughtful songs for vanilla escapism. As he’s been doing for more than two decades, this perceptive Canadian troubadour delivers another bumper crop of superior folk-pop tunes on Hangover Terrace, showing off his considerable gifts without undue fanfare.
Possessing a voice that’s a bit mournful and a little sleepy, Sexsmith could be the shy friend who’s waiting for the chance to unburden his soul. Sometimes he’s reassuring, languidly celebrating a messy, happy “House of Love,” and fending off sorrow and fear in the hushed “Angel on My Shoulder,” amplifying the tender vibe by adding strings to delicate acoustic guitar. Elsewhere, encroaching sadness looms large. Fueled by power pop energy, “It’s Been a While” laments how old friends are torn apart by time, and the gorgeous “When Will the Morning Come?” champions love in the face of overwhelming darkness.
