Jason Collett, Canadian musician and, most notably, a member of Broken Social Scene, has released a few of his own solo projects since his debut on the music scene in the late 1990s. Here’s to Being Here, his fourth independent record, was released in early 2008. After listening to this solo effort, it is easy to detect how his soft, guitar-based style significantly influenced a few of the supergroup’s songs, and yet is still distinct from collaborative sound of BBS.

Collett’s lyrics are oh so very Canadian, particularly in “Charlyn, Angel of Kensington” (one of the more upbeat, dynamic tracks on the album), which is in reference to one of Toronto’s more colourful downtown neighbourhoods and in his references to Ontario, Highway 401, Kingston, and Montreal in the lovely road-trip track “No Redemption Song.” There is a classic quality to “Sorry Lori” that is just very old-school, and sounds like something I might have heard through the static of an old radio years ago.

Collett possesses the drawling, word-garbling, and slightly-nasal high tones that are very much reminiscent of Bob Dylan’s signature sound. Calm, mature, and very country, the album captures Jason’s subdued nature and energy, and features the talents of Paso Mino, the band he takes on his tours. Collett has commented that while recording the album, he and the band uses larger physical spaces and tried to maintain a live element to the tracks. Clearly, the entire album does emanate an organic and unprocessed resonance. All in all, Here’s to Being Here is hushed and mellow – the nice set of songs to listen to on a rainy afternoon, curled up indoors.

Jason Collett will be performing at Massey Hall in Toronto on June 10th.



TRACK LISTING:

ROLL ON OBLIVION
SORRY LORI
OUT OF TIME
PAPERCUT HEARTS
HENRY’S SONG
CHARLYN, ANGEL OF KENSINGTON
NO REDEMPTION SONG
THROUGH THE NIGHT THESE DAYS
NOTHING TO LOSE
NOT OVER YOU
SOMEHOW
WAITING FOR THE WORLD