Boyle hails from the Gaspe region of Quebec.  Time moves in a slower arc there, and the rhythms of the earth itself, the passing of days and the change of seasons figure far more prominently in life’s daily fabric. 

Boyle’s songs lament a world too busy to take notice of the small details that provide colour and meaning to life’s tapestry.  The disc’s opener, “Tom,” is a meditation on our tendency to overlook our icons until they’re gone; the title track is a touching tribute to Johnson, whose renown would never equal his talent.  Elsewhere there’s “No One Lives Here Anymore” and “Nowhere Town,” both exploring the way hopes and dreams can be crushed by isolation as the world hurries on it’s way.  The lone cover is an apt choice – Springsteen’s “My Hometown” fits right in, it’s elegiac air perfectly suited to the disc’s somber mood. 

The sound is somewhat dark, Boyle opting for hushed tones (his voice, in fact, not far from Springsteen’s in the latter’s quieter moments) and acoustic accompaniment.  His guitar work is exemplary, showing him a fine picker indeed though he avoids grandstanding, instead employing understated, subtle arrangements that support his narratives without distracting from the power of the words.

A lovely disc with many rewards for careful listeners willing to take the time, this one’s a keeper.  Boyle is an accomplished musician, a fine singer, and an exceptionally thoughtful, meticulous songwriter.

Well done, Dale!