Album Review: Whitehorse, ‘I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying’
After dropping two albums in one year in 2021, husband-and-wife duo Whitehorse (Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland), took all of 2022 to record another one. The result, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, releases January 13 on Six Shooter Records.
Both Doucet and McClelland had notable solo careers before they found their way to one another. Since joining forces, they’ve cemented their status as one of Canada’s finest roots music bands. Between the two of them, they have clocked mileage in folk, blues, rock and various other styles.
This time, however, they lean heavily on classic-style country vibes.
I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying pulls from 1970s Nashville, channeling George and Tammy, Kenny and Dolly, and other beloved duos. All of this is delivered through their not-as-easy-as-they-look, homey harmonies and Doucet’s shapeshifting guitar work.
The album’s first single, “If the Loneliness Don’t Kill Me” is a welcome, old-fashioned earworm. It opens the disc and sets the scene for the honky-tonk romp that follows.
“The Road” is a major highlight—showcasing McCelland’s languid vocals, which land like some delightful mixture of Emmylou Harris and the late Karen Carpenter. “Leave Me as You Found Me” echoes the same influences, later in the disc.
“Division 5” is a compelling, acoustic guitar-driven, troubadour tune that spotlights the pair’s background in the singer-songwriter realm. It’s followed by electric guitar licks on “Manitoba Bound” that would make Gram Parsons blush. The Patsy Cline-esque “Sanity, TN” feels like a song that’s been around for years already—in the best way.
Plenty of artists have revisited ‘70s-era country music in recent years, but it’s a treat to be welcomed to the table by this pair of artists who have truly internalized their Nashville heroes. Both are able to embody numerous styles and concepts at once. Hearing them together can be thrilling. I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying is a welcome entrée for fans and newcomers alike.
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I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying is available HERE.
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