Jerry Leger

Ever since Bob Dylan "went electric," embracing a rock'n'roll aesthetic has remained a tricky concept for some traditionally minded singer-songwriters to handle. Torontonian Jerry Leger's work over the course of his four previous albums has proven he knows his way around a song as well as anyone in Canada, but there was always something in his Dylan-esque delivery that suggested it would serve him well to plug in from time to time. He's finally done that on this EP, which throughout its seven tracks crackles with the raw energy of a Sun Records single. What's most revealing is how producer Tim Bovaconti's heavy doses of twang and slap back echo don't sound contrived at all. In fact, it's entirely suited to Leger's uncommonly honest, conversational style. Even the few acoustic numbers, like "Coffin Blues," reveal how deep Leger's connections are to primordial rock'n'roll sounds, while other tracks, like "You Got Away From Me," bring those timeless themes into the present. This EP might have been a pleasant diversion for Leger, but it shows his ability to adapt to any idiom, a sure sign of an artist with the potential for longevity.