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Mar15, 2009 - Mar22, 2009 |
Those addictive sounds
Toronto merchants of melancholy Cowboy Junkies to turn 20
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2004-11-07
Considering that her band's excellent current album, One Soul Now, is their tenth studio effort, it comes as something of a shock to hear Cowboy Junkies singer Margo Timmins confess to problems in its recording.
"For quite a long time with this album, I just wasn't feeling it. I could sing the notes, but I wasn't feeling it. It was like I could have been singing in Italian! That was a little disappointing, as it usually comes really quickly to me. I don't like struggling or working hard, so it kind of threw me," she laughs.
Fortunately, Cowboy Junkies had the luxury of time in the recording. They laid down the songs over a one-year period in their own small studio, The Clubhouse, in what Margo describes as "a casual way, without the deadlines and expense of a big studio. Mike told me, 'we can do the songs 500 times until you're happy with them. It doesn't have to be in a day.' Once I calmed down, I began to feel the songs my way, as opposed to just singing them. I find a lot of music now is really soulless. It's on the perfect key, but there is nobody home."
The Mike she refers to is her older brother Michael Timmins. He writes and produces all the CJ material, while a third sibling, Peter, is the group's drummer. Along with bassist Alan Anton, the foursome have had a long and fascinating journey, one that has taken them from the Queen Street club circuit of the mid '80s to international recognition as one of the most accomplished and interesting purveyors of roots-based music.
They may never have quite repeated the impact made with their ground-breaking second album, The Trinity Session, but the consistent quality of their recorded work since has ensured the retention of a loyal fan base.
Such longevity is a real achievement. "We do not take it lightly," says Margo. "In this industry, it is hard to keep going, but we have managed. We have never had big hits, but we just somehow manage to go on. With our 20th anniversary coming up, there is pressure to put out something special. We may put out a songbook, as there has been a lot of requests for that."
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