Everybody loves a good sequel. It’s not too common an occurrence in music, but A.J.H. Gillis & The Delusions of Grandeur have released a true sequel with their latest album, If You Can’t Join ‘Em Beat ‘Em.
The project is a companion piece to Hapless Romantic, which was released earlier this year in February. The songs on both albums were recorded during the same sessions at the Ocean Floor recording studio in Halifax. As a result, both projects share a similar sunny atmosphere. We’re given a continuation of the slice of life style shown on the first album.
The same talents from the first album return as well, with Jordan Murphy on drums, Mike Farrington Jr. on bass guitar, and Phil Sedore and Gina Burgess joining for the overdub sessions. Terra Spencer and Tom Rich return with vocal harmonies that the perfect level of depth to the tracks. Everyone lends to their part like a fine-tuned machine.
Gillis’s penchant for capturing the monumental in little everyday moments is as strong as ever. Little lines about having a drink and watching the news like in “An Old Man’s Young Life” really give the lyrics authenticity, especially when coupled with the strong emotions Gillis is tackling.
The scorching guitar wail in ‘“Colour Blind” is only one example of the way the instrumentals are used on this album to build a sort of environment. Every song feels like it takes place in a very vivid and real location. That’s a common trend among artists from the East Coast, but Gillis really has a knack for it.
The album is bookended with some pretty uplifting tracks. “Higher Things” opens with the message of anyone being able to better their own life. “The Shape of You’”literally uses the phrase “seize the day”. It’s a shift from the first album, which dealt a lot with escaping hardships.
Though “Season to Leave” is the second to last track, it leaves a strong lasting impression. The song is a re-imagined Guthrie’s classic written by Matt Mays with a powerful “What I want, I will get, what I hate, I’ll forget” mantra. The way Gillis builds these lines over and over to a crescendo at the end of the song is really gratifying. He sings it with such conviction, it’s hard not to shout along and make the same vow.
This album ties up the two-part saga nicely, and oddly feels a bit more cohesive than if the songs had been lumped together into one big album. There’s a solid feeling of beginning and end, an open and shut that’ll leave a feeling of satisfaction and resolution.
Show Dates:
09.03.19 – Port Medway, NS @ The Port Grocer
AJH Gillis: BANDCAMP | INSTAGRAM