Inner City Front

by Bruce Cockburn

Overview

Inner City Front continues the urban toughness that moved to the forefront on Bruce Cockburn's previous release, Humans. Furthermore, like that record, there's an uneasiness that runs throughout, from the jazz-tinged opener, "You Pay Your Money and You Take Your Chance," to the disquieting "Loner," which closes the album. Even a love song like "Wanna Go Walking," one of the most straightforward rockers he's ever recorded, reflects the weight of the outside world. Only the jazzy instrumental "Radio Shoes" and the joyful "And We Dance" remain free of this underlying tension. Musically, moody synths, violin, and woodwinds on Inner City Front underscore the dark, reflective nature of the material, which like its predecessor, deals with the "paradox and contrast" in the human condition, from personal relationships to world affairs. Also, for the second consecutive recording, Cockburn eschews the folkier, acoustic leanings of his '70s work and places both feet squarely into the jazz and worldbeat rock that dominated the majority of Humans. One track, "The Strong One," is even given a slow, brooding, techno treatment. Since the release of In the Falling Dark, Cockburn was gaining creative momentum with each release, and Inner City Front continues that trend. ~ Brett Hartenbach

Product Details

Release Date:	04/07/2009
Label:	True North Records
UPC:	0620638028827
Rank:	71349

Tracks

1. You Pay Your Money and You Take Your Chance [Tu Mises Ton Argent et Laisses Faire La Chance]
2. The Strong One [La Femme Forte]
3. All's Quiet on the Inner City Front [Tout Est Paisible Sur le Front du Centre de La Ville]
4. Radio Shoes
5. Wanna Go Walking [Allons Nous Promener]
6. And We Dance [et Nous Dansons]
7. Justice [La Justice]
8. Broken Wheel [Roue Bris¿¿e]
9. Loner [le Solitaire]
10. The Coldest Night of the Year
11. The Light Goes on Forever

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bruce Cockburn   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Dulcimer
Ruholla Khomeini   Percussion
Dennis Pendrith   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Memo Acevedo   Percussion
Kathryn Moses   Wind,Reeds,Sax (Soprano),Vocals (Background)
Murray McLauchlan   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jon Goldsmith   Keyboards
Hugh Marsh   Violin,Mandolin
John T. Davis   Organ
Bob Disalle   Drums
M. Kaddafi   Vocals,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

George Marino   Mastering
Bruce Cockburn   Composer,Producer
Gary Gray   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Bernie Finkelstein   Associate Producer
Bart Schoales   Photography,Art Direction
George Whiteside   Photography
Gene Martynec   Audio Production