Artist:     City and Colour

Album:     If I Should Go Before You

Label:     Dine Alone

Release Date:     10/9/2015

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Anyone who has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of If I Should Go Before You after hearing lead track, “Woman,” will be pleased to know the wait was worth it. Though the first track is a long one, at over nine minutes, it’s the perfect introduction to Dallas Green’s new set of moving tunes.

This is City and Colour’s fifth release in the last decade, a perfect time span that allows a steady flow of music while not rushing the next release. Dallas Green never seems to run out of ideas and layers to explore. Unlike the rest of the releases, Green produced this one himself with the help of Jaquire King (Dawes, Kings of Leon, Tom Waits) at Blackbird Studios in Nashville.

If I Should Go Before You feels alive, with instruments live off the studio floor to create a blended atmosphere. There is a lot of depth in the songwriting, but also a sense of friendship.

Green made this record with and for his band, saying, “this is the best representation of what we do live that we have ever recorded … I was so excited about being able to make and record an album with these guys that it just flowed.” Though the sounds and feelings are different compared to his earlier releases, Green’s effort is still all there. He won’t bore his fans anytime soon. Standouts include “Woman” and “Blood.”

– Brenda Hillegas