Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart Review

If you were looking for a blueprint of what a modern blues musician needs to be, you’ll find no better example than Canadian Steve Marriner.

Marriner is a multi-instrumentalist: adept at vocals, guitar, harp, drums, and bass; he is also a fine songwriter and possibly the busiest musician in the country. Music of any kind is a tough business today but Marriner never sits still. He’s part of two of Canada’s premiere blues-rock bands, MonkeyJunk and the Colin James Band. In addition, he’s a Juno Award winner (Canada’s Grammy) and producer.

Marriner often works with close friends under the name of Local Electric and it’s this incarnation enlisted for his new album Hear My Heart. He’s recruited stellar help from fellow guitar-slinger and singer Jimmy Bowskill, who also doubled as engineer on the album. Jesse O’Brien, best known as Colin James’s keyboard player, performs on Hammond organ and piano. Other regular performing partners include Gary Craig on drums and Darcy Yates on bass. Several guest musicians are also involved.

It’s, without doubt, his multi-talented arsenal that provides such a solid, driving force to this new album. Marriner is able to create a full rich sound out of every instrument and word. Except for a cover of “I Can’t Dance,” by Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, and “Gotta Be An Answer,” a Lonnie Mack song, Marriner is the sole composer. And his writing is front and centre throughout the album, with relatable, meaningful and brilliant lyrics.

The opener, “I’m Working On Something,” is driven by a slow, powerful rhythm section pushing Hammond B3 organ and guitar forward like an ocean wave. Although the lyrics speak of the toll taken through living, it’s a weighty, yet somehow, comforting composition.

Lamenting the seemingly unrivalled sad state of the world, the second composition is “Gotta Be An Answer.” Marriner, speaking straight from his heart–as promised in the album’s title–has delivered, gifting listeners with the possibility of faith in our collective future. Featuring horns and guitar, Steve Hillman contributes sax and Doug Woolverton trumpet on the first two tracks.

“I Don’t Know What To Say” features a powerful, rhythmic drum beat behind infectious verse and chorus. On these first three songs, the versatile Marriner provides lead vocals, background vocals, harmonica, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, as well as bass on the opener, plus keyboards on this one.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Marriner’s cover of “I Can’t Dance” is the way it demonstrates how well he is able to change the tone and texture of his voice – gravelly here but full and rounded in others – to match the compositions. It was released as the first single to the album and this new arrangement is excellent.

“Hellbound For Heaven” features Marriner’s blues harp and slide guitar from Bowskill. With its catchy title and melody, it’s bound to be popular across genres, from pop to blues to country. Brittany Brooks contributes background vocals. Ian McKeown steps in on bass guitar for this one.

“Straight Line” offers up a great, funky country sound with harmonica and some fine honky-tonk piano from O’Brien. Bowskill, a familiar and powerhouse performer on his own, contributes some fine vocal harmonies with Marriner and also takes on the lead guitar role in this showcase number. Craig on drums and Yates on upright bass backstop the high-tempo rhythm.

“Little Bird” features an additional writing credit to Anders Drerup. Terra Lightfoot contributes backing vocals here and on “No More Nashville.” It’s a warm ballad with lyrics making clever use of the metaphor of birds and flying.

“No More Nashville” is a stripped-down ballad with a heavy country influence both in melody and lyrics. Marriner’s harmonica reflects the western sound rather than his signature note-bending blues intonation. Bowskill is featured on pedal steel and lead guitars while McKeown takes over at bass for this one and Little Bird; Lightfoot adds background vocals.

“Through The Night” acknowledges the bleak, current political landscape but the tone and tempo offers hope and the promise of emergence from the darkness with love triumphant over darkness and “pretenders.” It starts off with slow, deliberate blues but revs up into an an up-tempo number. Bright drum and harp contributions provide the optimistic tone.

“Shootin’ Off” is an upbeat swing instrumental featuring signature Steve Marriner harp and Bowskill on upright bass with a solo featuring electric hollow body guitar. Guest Rick Holmstrom contributes lead guitar on this one and on “Through The Night,” and Adam Warner sits in behind the drum kit for these two.

A great follow-up to his Hope Dies Last album, Hear My Heart will definitely have people listening. First-rate writing and stellar musicianship are packaged with top-notch production by Marriner and Bowskill. Look for this album to permeate the playlists throughout North America and beyond.

The Review 8.5/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– I Don’t Know What To Say
– I Can’t Dance
– Through The Night
– Hellbound For Heaven
– Straight Line

The Big Hit

– Straight Line