Scott Cook Drops New Album 'Guy Fawkes Day, 1947'
Montreal singer-songwriter Scott Cook has announced his new album Guy Fawkes Day, 1947, a seven-song set that blends indie rock, indie folk and singer-songwriter music with a jazz-influenced harmonic approach. It is a pretty wide musical palette, but Cook keeps the focus firmly on the songs, writing about the people, situations and everyday details happening around him.
The album is informed by some heavyweight influences, including David Bowie, Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd, though Cook’s sound is very much his own. Rather than chasing a particular era or aesthetic, he uses those reference points as a springboard for melodic and harmonic experimentation. The songs remain accessible, but there are enough unexpected turns to keep things interesting.
The tracklist includes “The Author,” “Might Never Learn,” “Hook on a Paper Wall,” “The Pin in My Grenade,” “Doppelganger,” “No Bones” and “Good Things.” Cook’s writing is straightforward and observational, with lyrics that feel like they come directly from real life rather than from some heavily constructed fictional universe. There is a lot to like in that approach, particularly when so much contemporary songwriting seems determined to make every feeling sound monumental.
“I want my songs to give me something to think about and, in turn, to give others something to think about, too,” Cook says. That pretty much sums up the record. These are songs designed to start a thought rather than finish one. Cook looks at the present, writes down what he finds there and leaves listeners plenty of room to bring their own perspective.
Cook plays guitar and sings throughout, with Kenny Bibace on guitar, Paul Shrofel on keyboards, Frank Lozano on saxophone, Julia Jones on vocals, David Watts on upright bass and Rich Irwin on drums. Dave Traina mixed the album at Freq Shop Studios and Brock McFarlane mastered it, while Cook designed the cover. Guy Fawkes Day, 1947 is a thoughtful, low-key indie record with enough musical personality to reward a closer listen.
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