In the Loop
Posted August 14, 2007
By IronJedi,
The latest from overlooked, Canadian singer / songwriter Riley Armstrong is a remarkable, yet sure-to-be underappreciated, treasure. La loop is a terrific collection of songs reminding us that even in the hustle, bustle and drudgery of everyday life, it is possible to see God and "practice His presence" in what we see as the mundane.
Riley's trademark understated vocal delivery is about the only sonic holdover from previous releases. Don't take that the wrong way, Armstrong does NOT depart from his idiosyncratic blend of R&B, Hip Hop and Urban pop but he DOES take it to the next level in La loop. The music, driven by sampled beats and drum loops, is invigorated by layered keyboard sounds, occasional guitars and glossy production.
A new level of maturity is evident on La loop. Riley leaves behind some of the quirky humor found on his two previous releases, but does not abandon his penchant for creating great songs from everyday source material, nor his upbeat and oft times whimsical outlook. His ability to bring a fresh lyrical perspective to the ordinary is still intact and second to none.
To borrow from a popular oxymoron, the songs of La loop are "the same, only better" than what has come before. Shame on you if you haven't jumped on the Riley Armstrong bandwagon... remedy the situation post haste and get this "pearl of great price."
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