Jason Collett

Here’s to Being Here

Jason Collett’s MySpace

Jason Collett’s Official Website

Jason Collett hasn’t followed your typical route to the singer/songwriter spotlight. Already a purveyor of straight-shooting folk rock under his own name during the late ’90s it wasn’t until after a stint as part of the Canuck guitarmageddon army of obtuse rock darlings Broken Social Scene that Collett revisited his own unfussy tunes to discover that there was suddenly a substantially larger audience waiting to hear them. On his third solo album since BSS’ explosion and fifth overall, Here’s to Being Here, Collett returns with yet another batch of amiable and unobtrusive folk-rock featuring some medium-wattage guest stars (members of the Stills, Apostle of Hustle). The danger with music this immediately pleasing and low-key is that it can easily fade into little more than high quality coffeehouse background tuneage if steps aren’t taken to ensure a few interesting musical wrinkles crop up along the way, thankfully Collett does just that.

Listen to "Out of Time" from Here's To Being Here

For every pleasing by the numbers folk-rock tune, about half of the album, Collett is sure to provide an intriguing counter-point whether it be roiling pop (“Papercut Hearts”), reggae-inflected exploration (“Charlyn, Angel of Kensington”), or hymn-like balladry (“Somehow”). Clearly, Collett doesn’t want to be confined to the alt. country ghetto and this is definitely a good thing as some of the balmier numbers in that vein, in particular “Sorry Lori,” edge a lit bit too close to Jimmy Buffett soft-rock territory for comfort. Collett’s workmanlike vocals recall Tom Petty in their low key affect, but he also has a propensity for occasionally drawing out syllables to dramatic effect, at which points his voice will likely remind Twin Cities listeners more of Mason Jennings. He’s a different lyricist than either artist, however, squarely positioning himself in the caustic Dylan school of clever phrasing with varying degrees of success (“The perennial fatigue of the time/When you’re long in the tooth and short in the sleeve/There’s nowhere left to hide.”). Ultimately, Collett’s balancing act between well-worn traditional rock maneuvers and a willingness to strike slightly more dramatic musical poses is Here’s to Being Here’s defining feature and what makes it compelling listening for those appreciative of classic singer/songwriter fare unafraid to tweak convention.

Watch Jason Collett do "Storytellers" segment on his song "Papercut Hearts"

Watch a behind the scenes "mini-documentary" on the making of Here's to Being Here

COMING UP: Jason Collett plays the Turf Club on Friday, March 28. With opening act Switzerlind. 9 p.m. $10 adv/$12 door. 21+.