Stand In The Joy
Six Shooter, 2023
9/10
The Juno Award winner William Prince returns with his inimitable storytelling which explores the subtle beauty of life that’s heartfelt, introspective and welcomes some excellent help.
“When You Miss Someone” opens the listen with Prince’s very comforting and expressive voice alongside Chris Powell’s agile drumming and Brian Allen’s cozy bass for the Americana spirited climate, and “Only Thing We Need” follows with Prince’s emotive acoustic guitar and poetic pipes being complemented by Alyshia Grace Hobday’s soulful backing vocals.
“Broken Heart Of Mine” occupies the middle spot, and is full of country sensibilities that radiates Paul Franklin’s glowing pedal steel, while “Pasadena” gets a little thicker with its rugged versus pretty qualities of breeziness.
Close to the end, “Peace Of Mind” enters folk territory with its wise and dreamy demeanor, and “Take A Look Around” exits with meticulous finger picking and a thoughtful intimacy that you can’t help but admire.
This is Prince’s 4th album, and his rich, universally relatable vision is as substantial as ever, where roots, country, Americana and folk are present and appreciated across the 10 exceptional songs.
Travels well with: Chris Vallillo- Forgottonia; Daniel Janke- Songs Of Small Resistance