PROVINCIAL

John Samson ( Anti-/ Epitaph)

It’s not clear if Samson is poking fun at his reputation for literary lyrics with

When I Write My Master’s Thesis, no doubt a sly allusion to Bob Dylan’s

When I Paint My Masterpiece. But since Samson is one of few songwriters who can truly be described as poetic rather than simply having poetic aspirations, one might assume his solo disc to be a collection of short stories and poems set to an afterthought of music. Not so. As with his best work leading Winnipeg’s Weakerthans, Samson’s story songs offer a parade of memorable images and characters: a frumpy and quietly anguished teacher clinging to a romantic affair; a 10- speed- riding sad- sack left to circle Dairy Queen on cruise night; former NHLER and First Nations native Reggie Leach rising to greatness on borrowed skates. What’s remarkable here is Samson’s ability to shoehorn writerly ideas into recognizable singer- songwriter forms. Heart of the Continent is heartbreaking fragile folk, Cruise Night borders

on anthemic rock, while Longitudinal

Centre revels in fuzzed- out, guitarpop glory.