The Day Your Love Will Pass Me By

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Graydon James’ sophomore album goodnight, young novelist, is a two-disc roller coaster ride through 40 songs spanning more than two hours and exploring heartbreak, saunas, aquatic life, Tuesday night pasta, small towns, ever-elusive Canadian fame, dropkicks, the 1970s, and handclaps.

Graydon James is the former drummer for such little-known indie bands as the 6ixty8ights, Hill, Clare Love & the Sweethearts, Sir!, the Friendless Youngsters, the Kindly Ones, Ryan Partridge, the Rose Soul Band, and the Histrionics. And he’s the current drummer for Dave Borins, the Maevens, the Primordials, and the Pocket Co. His debut album, The Ominous Panda ep, was followed by a tour of the eastern United States and eastern Canada to mildly enthusiastic critical acclaim. This project gathers together all the songs written since then and combines Graydon’s multi-instrumentalist abilities with the talents of some new-found musician amigos.

Laura Spink, Graydon’s long-time backing vocalist and part-time better half, brought her vocal talents to bear on the record, as well as assisting in the arrangement, production, and mixing. Noel DiTosto provided sweeping, twenty-fingered guitar solos as well as mandolin, banjo, and trumpet, all while performing topless. Myke Mazzei graciously donated his velveteen vocals to the project, as well as providing piping hot acoustic and electric guitar rhythms. And if the album sounds any good, it’s because Shawn Jurek spent four sweaty days in a concrete bunker mastering the bejesus out of the tunes.

goodnight, young novelist is a 40-track double CD, mastered by Shawn Jurek. Every style of music ever conceived has been covered in this album. That’s right, all 40 styles of music invented by man. Graydon is still waiting on the 41st style from the Philippines, so that he can cover it on his next album. On a serious note, the double-album runs the gamut from 70’s-style rock (“Country Kids”) to roots-rock (“Older Bros. Never Listen”) to dance-along mod beats (“She's That Girl”) to accordion-riff pop (“Like We Used To”) to melancholy country (“The Day Your Love Will Pass Me By”) to Ben Folds-esque piano rock (“Coming Down”), all with harmonies via the Beach Boys and shakers and tambourines galore. With 40 songs on this album, you’re bound to like one.