06-22-2016, 12:00 PM
This is a case where the production applied to the vocal (I don't know what the technical term for that effect is - it's not reverb; a very tight manipulation of Paulstretch maybe?) definitely enhances the proceedings.
It's a classic Downie lyric - 'a little wistful perhaps' is indeed the best part - that seems to use being on the road as a metaphor for life itself. Not intellectualizing, just 'being' and feeling and reacting, is the song's recommendation, put forward as a recipe both for performance and for living. What strikes me here is that Gord seems to be expressing a kind of basic contentment here. Sure, it's laced with sadness and wistfulness. But that's about as good as it gets. The 'ocean' here works both as a symbol for wonder and also, maybe, for death. Look for him to hit that hard in concert.
I regret one detail about this performance. The best part of the vocal is the little descending grace notes at the end of the 'Ocean next' refrain.To my ear, that's the moment of catharsis. But he doesn't give it to us quite often enough as he repeats 'ocean next, ocean next' throughout the track. A small frustration for me.
It's a classic Downie lyric - 'a little wistful perhaps' is indeed the best part - that seems to use being on the road as a metaphor for life itself. Not intellectualizing, just 'being' and feeling and reacting, is the song's recommendation, put forward as a recipe both for performance and for living. What strikes me here is that Gord seems to be expressing a kind of basic contentment here. Sure, it's laced with sadness and wistfulness. But that's about as good as it gets. The 'ocean' here works both as a symbol for wonder and also, maybe, for death. Look for him to hit that hard in concert.
I regret one detail about this performance. The best part of the vocal is the little descending grace notes at the end of the 'Ocean next' refrain.To my ear, that's the moment of catharsis. But he doesn't give it to us quite often enough as he repeats 'ocean next, ocean next' throughout the track. A small frustration for me.