Another Morning
J. P. Cormier
Borealis Recording Company
1997
14 tracks
Based on Another Morning, I quite like the work of J. P. Cormier. Here is a competent musician performing comfortable folk/country songs that can serve as background but also bear a closer listen. If asked, I would recommend this recording to anyone. However, Cormier still has a way to go in developing his sound.
Borealis bills Cormier as "one of Cape Breton's most stunning musicians and songwriters" and as "one of Canada's best songwriters." In fact, his music is not so much "stunning" as only comfortable, his tunes mostly replicate traditional folk themes, and his lyrics would not be likely to stand on their own as poetry. He is a good musician, but his songwriting and arrangements leave something to be desired.
By contrast, I look at the lyrics of Canadians such as Gordon Lightfoot, Gene Mclelland, Joanie Mitchell, and Leonard Cohen, among others, all of whom write world class poetry set to music. The first time I heard Gordon Lightfoot on the radio almost 35 years ago or the young Bruce Guthro more recently, I was instantly compelled by the words and music. With J. P. Cormier, this simply does not happen.
Certainly Cormier has the credentials. He has played with the likes of Travis Tritt, Hal Ketchum, Pam Tillis, and Mark O’Connor and has, according to Borealis, "won the respect of singers and musicians wherever he plays, as well as winning dozens of guitar, fiddle, and banjo competitions." Along the way, he was nominated "Instrumental Artist of the Year" at the 1997 East Coast Music Awards.
The talent and the experience are clearly present. What is needed now is for Cormier to discover his own voice, that unique sound which is J. P. Cormier. Another Morning is a collection of echoes or other artists and music. It is this hint of deja vu which both makes the music feel so comfortable yet denies it its own voice.In the introductions to the songs I hear echoes of "The Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Shenendoah" among others. Vocally, every song's style is different, not enough to detract from the unity of the whole set, but enough to be noticeable. Sometimes the vocal style will even shift within the same song. In these songs, I find myself hearing echoes of Glenn Yarbrough, Stan Rogers, John Denver, Buck Owens years ago, Father Columba McManus (remember him?), early Gordon Lightfoot (instrumentally as well), John Hartford (in lyrics and instrumental style), and others.
Cormier is a passable songwriter, but that is all. He may be well advised to seek out songs by the best new songwriters (Guthro is a good example here) as well as reprise some of the great songs that are already out there. This might well reverse his current process. Rather than sing his own songs rife with the vocal styles of his influences, Cormier could bring his personal interpretation to the songs of others and give them new life.
While I would certainly recommend giving J. P. Cormier a listen, I would not place him at the top of a list of CD's to buy. Rather, he is an artist to watch, not as a songwriter but as a performer. Once he finds his own voice he will surely rise to the top of Canadian talent.
Those wanting more information on J. P. Cormier can find it at the Borealis home page.
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Review Written: December 26, 1998
Page Last modified: February 14, 2004
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