Dissecting the human range of emotion is a tall order. If Rose Cousins struggles with the exploration of such a complex collection of experiences, she certainly doesn’t show it. She spends the duration of her newest album, Bravado, accomplishing just such a feat with all the ease of someone who already has these mysteries figured out.
That juxtaposition is what makes this such an interesting listen. There’s a comfort in how well-composed – in all senses of the word – Cousins presents herself in these songs. She carefully sifts through subject matter that many would be too uncomfortable to face for themselves. “The Time Being (Impending Mortality Awareness Society)” even treats the topic of mortality as something that many can only broach in the company of others.
The album borrows its title from “The Expert”, where Cousins refers to her bravado as a companion who takes the reins during life’s toughest moments. Perhaps it’s this very bravado that allows her to hold such calm bravery in the face of crises. It allows her to take the care to traverse complicated emotions with the thoroughness they deserve.
This is especially prevalent in the bookends of the album, “The Benefits of Being Alone” and its respective reprise. If the first track is a celebration of freedom, “The Reprise” is a quiet lamentation of loneliness. The lyrics don’t change, but the arrangement brings a totally different spin the second time around.
The existence of such a callback, especially with its major tonal shift, really attests to how theatrical this album can be. It truly feels like a finale, especially when followed with the bite-sized “The Truth (It’s Just Emotion)”. Songs like this and “The Swimmer (To Be An Old Man)” are rife with dramatic flair, especially in comparison to more muted tracks like “The Fraud”.
“The Return (Love Comes Back)” is a turning point for the album. There’s a hopeful swell to the choruses that builds as the song goes on. It’s a triumphant reminder of life’s resilience after some of the more sobering tracks on the record. The repetition of the song’s title is a comforting reminder, a mantra that trumps any struggle with mortality or loneliness. Though it’s far from the final track, this lasting reminder feels like Cousins leaving a gift for anyone searching for the answer themselves.
Tour Dates:
03.05.20 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall ^
03.06.20 – Ottawa, ON @ NAC Babs Asper Theatre ^
03.19.20 – Halifax, NS @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium ^
03.20.20 – Fredericton, NB @ Wilmot United Church ^
03.21.20 – Charlottetown, PEI @ Confederation Centre of the Arts ^
* with Patty Griffin
^ with John Paul White