Oshawa five-piece Cuff The Duke has been touring and recording for about a decade, and in that time their sound hasn’t evolved all that much. It’s not that Wayne Petti doesn’t write incredibly inspiring or thought provoking material, it’s just that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The fifth disc finds the band perfecting a polished take on Blue Rodeo-inspired alt-country that it is known for, with solid ballads (So Many Times Before) and epic stories (Bound To Your Own Vices) peppering the disc. But it’s the upbeat summer anthems that Cuff The Duke fans crave, and they’re here in spades. You Don’t Know What It’s Like is as magical as it gets, while Standing on the Edge has some blisteringly dreamy guitar on it. Longing and sadness are themes on the record, so it’s remarkable that it manages to stay somewhat uplifting as a whole. Overall, another classic and a great introduction to Cuff The Duke for new kids and kiddos.

Published in Volume 66, Number 6 of The Uniter (October 5, 2011)