Canon Canyon

Sit Down And Listen

[4/5]

An understated incarnation of the kind of rural rock ’n’ roll these guys played in their former bands Roy and Some By Sea, Canon Canyon play simple and honest music. As connected to the city as the country with their mix of CSNY and Springsteen, vocalist/guitarist Mike Cooper’s own baritone voice is what defines songs like the haunting anthem “Sunny Mornings.” Sit Down And Listen is full of tiny gems that don’t require overblown arrangements to make an impact. “Juan De Fuca” is the closest the band come to truly epic volumes, but at a mere two-and-a-half minutes, it’s a brief, powerful moment that doesn’t overstay its welcome. This is a record of moments like that: small, simple snapshots of big ideas and bigger dreams. (RURAL WOLF; myspace.com/ruralwolfrecords) Sam Sutherland