As
City and Colour, Canadian songsmith and reformed screamer
Dallas Green has enjoyed an impressive run of success over the previous decade. Initially launched in the mid-2000s as a quiet, acoustic rebuttal to his post-hardcore band,
Alexisonfire, the project gained new layers around the turn of the decade, resulting in a trio of dreamy, deeply introspective folk-pop albums, each of which topped the Canadian charts. 2015's soulful
If I Should Go Before You was a warmly crafted gem that utilized
Green's tight-knit live band and featured some of his sharpest writing to date. Arriving four years later,
A Pill for Loneliness is an altogether lusher affair, which seems to sever ties with
Green's more organic tendencies in favor of ethereal synths, textured guitar washes, and a sort of orange-hued, melancholic dream pop. Helping to nudge him in this direction is
Jacquire King, a veteran American producer whose many credits include
Kings of Leon,
Dawes, and
Modest Mouse. Tonally, this is a beautiful collection and the deeply layered backdrops create an apt showcase for
Green's aching tenor vocals. Album standout "Astronaut" is a subtly thrilling cut with a captivating arrangement, a soaring crescendo, and one of the sweetest melodies you'll hear in awhile. Likewise, "Imagination" uses its shimmering Wall of Sound to great effect, bending its celestial mass around a pounding rock beat. The misty ballad "Me and the Moon" is another gorgeous track built around
Green's soaring vocals that hits its mark squarely. At times, however,
A Pill for Loneliness suffers from its own consistency as one vaporous, albeit pretty, track blends into the next without leaving much of an impact. Still, as a vehicle for
Green's talents, it hits enough highs to mark another worthwhile chapter in
City and Colour's development. ~ Timothy Monger