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Fortune's Favour

Great Big Sea

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Album Review

The eighth album by the considerably popular and acclaimed Canadian folk-rock outfit Great Big Sea, Fortune's Favoor was released in 2008 by Warner Canada. Featuring the singles "Walk on the Moon," "Love Me Tonight," and "Here and Now," the album was yet another success for the group, continuing their streak of (at least) gold record worthy sales, and peaked at number five on Canadian charts.

Customer Reviews

Candian Culture Powerhouse

Great Big Sea has definitely continued towards making pop-ier sounding songs with some of this album; Long Lost Love, Love Me Tonight, Walk On The Moon, and Here and Now are probably the biggest indicators of the trend. This is definitely not a problem for them - the whole album makes you want to get up and "Dance Dance" around. On the beach. In the sun. And don't fret if you prefer the more traditional-sounding work, there's plenty of that too: Straight to Hell, Banks of Newfoundland, Rocks of Merasheen to name a few. With songs like Oh Yeah showing off more of the rock in their folk-rock and every song oozing with the exuberance that every fan knows them for, Great Big Sea has delivered another 14 powerhouse tracks to the Canadian culture-scape. It truly sounds like the b'ys had a blast recording this album and it shines through on every track, making this the perfect summer soundtrack album.

"With Our Hearts as Big as Sails"

You can't keep a good man down, never mind the trio that comprises Great Big Sea. It's no real surprise, after the salt-of-the-earthiness of The Hard and The Easy--an unapologetic excursion into the heart of Newfoundland acoustic traditional--that GBS is shooting sky high with this new release and going supersonic. Oh yeah! Produced by a fearless Hawksley Workman, Fortune's Favour is the band's 9th studio album in 15 years. I'm honestly surprised and thrilled that GBS continues to conquer new frontiers with unflagging spirit, countless miles and a veritable World's Fair of cities behind them. I'm a loyal fan of 10 years, and if this is to be my review of the album, I figure what the hell's the point of pretending I'm impartial. I'm not. So, there you have it, my deep-rooted bias. The fact is I'm invested—time, money, heart, energy and friendships. I've been listening to friends talk about Fortune's Favour this week, about cranking it on the open road—windows, sunroofs and hearts wide open. There's no question that with the opening bars of "Love Me Tonight" all hearts shout approval. The album's first single "Walk on the Moon" follows, and while it's not my favourite track, I appreciate and totally enjoy the unexpected treatment Workman gives it. Drifting back to earth for track three, I'm carried far away to McCann's "England", a truly lovely and straightforward nod to the wistful shantys of a sea faring culture, a nod to the forefathers. Now three songs in, and my mind is looking for sign posts. I wonder early on how this album is held together. Doyle's soulful voice breaks in with "Here and Now". Song 4 has me completely. It's my early favourite—infectious and lyrically rich with an apt allusion to Dylan Thomas' "Do Not Go Gently". Great Big Sea's signature harmonies and fierce male chorus are a sign post, and magic lets loose on the bridge, "walk a little further off the beaten path..." Sure. I'm with you lads. Fronted by McCann, "Long Lost Love" shifts tempo and flavour again. It's groovy. For me, it's reminiscent of Blue Rodeo, but I've failed to convince anyone else. There's no time to dwell, however, when the unexpected rocker "Oh Yeah" shatters the speed of sound. It's lyrically interesting despite the title. I remember hearing it live several months ago, and, unlike some tunes in production, this one has definitely improved. My initial aversion is a growing appreciation. Truthfully, some of the vocals and lyrics are so cool, I want to jump in. I will be a part of that gang vocal yet. Bringing up the weak middle position is song 7, the lone traditional track on this album, Banks of Newfoundland. I wish I liked it more. I want to. For me, however, it's a sore thumb. I wish Bob's lead vocals had been put to best use recording the Knack's "Good Girls Don't" instead because his cover is fierce. The vocals a worthy match for his always intense gaze. Halfway through and I'm still looking for signposts. Two themes are emerging. First there is the explicit 'carpe diem' of songs fronted by Doyle offset by the wistful 'love lost, found & fought for' complexity of the McCann tracks. Some large part of my gypsy soul grabs hold of song 8, "Dream to Live". It has that most compelling of Great Big Sea benchmarks--an irresistible chorus. I, at least, cannot resist it. It's followed by "Company of Fools", written by Doyle and Russel Crowe years ago when Doyle produced the latest TOFOG album. Crowe's loss is our gain. The other part of my gypsy soul is perfectly at home in this company. Song 10 and hard at it, some of the lyrics to "Hard Case" puzzle me, but it still hits like a ton of bricks. I dig how the easy groove wraps around the troubled storyline, even if the meaning does leave me confounded. From comfortable confusion to regretful romance, "Rocks of Merasheen" is next. I must be in McCann territory. I am definitely at the mercy of another killer gang chorus. Cut to 1980 something and "Dance Dance" lead by Doyle Doyle. For those who missed it the first few times, seize the moment, and don't let that lovely lady wander the rocky rocks alone forever…or something like that. I can't wait to enjoy this one live because I will happily do what the title commands and Sing Sing too. What can I say about the achingly beautiful strains of "Heart of Stone" and just how brilliant the bagpipes are in this arrangement? This one tugs hard and lets you live with the ache. The album wraps unapologetically with "Straight to Hell". Although I don't subscribe to the fire and brimstone school of belief, this slightly apocalyptic return to the live-life-fully mantra works for me. With Fortune's Favour aptly described in The Telegram as a "coalescence of the band's traditional roots influences, its uppity folk ballads and pop tendencies, injected with Workman's big-sound, big production propensity" some people may wonder how fans will accept the new offering. Idiosyncratic preferences aside, I see fans whole heartedly embracing the album "with our hearts as big as sails", a joyous parade of sail in fact.

Way to Go Sean!

All their fans will know that the majority of songs on GBS's albums are sung by Alan. In other words, Alan is usually the star of the band, but this time around Sean Mccann undoubtably shines brightest. I've been a ceaseless Sean advocate over the years and I believe Fortune's Favor is that perfect step forward for him I've been hoping for, as all his songs mix beautiful lyrics with a perfectly crafted melody. As another reviewer noted, his performance of "England" may very well be the best thing the band has ever recorded. According to their website he also wrote and arranged the song, which also makes it the best thing they've ever written or composed. Alan doesn't disappoint with his usual array of fun and feel good songs, which I never seem to fully appreciate until they randomly play on my ipod at 'just' the right time and completely make my day. I was happy to find that the great traditional-sounding song Company of Fools was also written by Alan. His venture into rock, I'll admit, is not my cup of tea. For me it seems rather out of place for the band's sound and instruments, but it makes me appreciate that they're the kind of artists that can produce music from any side of the spectrum, giving something new and original to their fans with every album. Although I wont find myself listening to Straight to Hell or Oh Yeah regularly, they'll make for great additions to the live show. I personally can't wait to dance and sing to them along with the band in December! If you get Great Big Sea, you'll want to get this CD. While lacking an invigorating instrumental track, it nevertheless contains in one song or another just about everything you'd hope to find in a GBS album.

Biography

Genre: Singer/Songwriter

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

The sea shanty tradition of Newfoundland is fused with the spirit and energy of contemporary rock and popular music by Great Big Sea. Their hard-driving approach has not only made them popular in their homeland, where they've been nominated for four Juno Awards, but has brought them a growing recognition throughout North America and Europe. The inspiration for Great Big Sea was sparked during informal, kitchen-party jam sessions in the Newfoundland fishing village of Petty Harbor. Guitar, mandolin,...
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