Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are a band perfectly willing to wear their enthusiasm on their collective sleeve. After all, the project that brought Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, and Tom Wilson together and gave them their group name was a tribute to Canadian singer/songwriter Willie P. Bennett, and they've never been hesitant to cover songwriters they look up to or bring in guest artists they admire…
Lee Harvey Osmond is the brainchild of Tom Wilson (of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and Junkhouse fame). A rare larger-than-life character in Canadian music, he effectively reins in his booming voice on this follow-up to 2009 debut A Quiet Evil. Don't term this a solo record though, for Wilson has corralled a talent-heavy posse of fellow sinners. The album is produced with clarity by Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) and the songs co-written with the likes of Josh Finalyson (Skydiggers), Paul Reddick and Colins James, Cripps and Linden. Musical accompanists include Ray Farrugia (Junkhouse), Brent Titcomb and Reddick. Horns, vibes and pedal steel add atmosphere, while Oh Susanna (whose duet on "Big Chief" is a stunner), Andy Maize, Margo Timmins and Hawksley Workman help mix things up vocally…