
Like Rufus Wainwright, Ron Sexsmith seems to be an acquired taste despite his undeniable talent. How else to explain the singer-songwriter’s lack of a breakthrough? People (like Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney) love him, while others (who cite his “whiny” voice) loathe him. This album will do nothing for Sexsmith’s dissenters. But songs like the soulful “These Days” and the tender “God Loves Everyone” will thrill fans. And the hopeful “Gold in Them Hills” is a gem that deserves to be a hit.