NQ Arbuckle: Love Songs For The Long Game

By Kerry Doole

NQ Arbuckle - Love Songs For The Long Game (Six Shooter Records): It has been a long time since we've heard from this Toronto roots-rock combo, the brainchild of singer/songwriter Neville Quinlan, but his return with his first new music in six years is a timely and welcome one.

It is one of his more subdued and philosophical offerings, showcasing his skills as a lyricist. “What are you doing America? When will you be worthy of Ginsberg?,” he muses, before confessing “I'm feeling so crazy unsure about the future, It's a wonder that we ever sleep at night.”

Adding extra poetic power is a beautiful and moving black and white video featuring footage of cocooned family members and pets coping with the new reality of this tense time. The clip was directed and edited remotely by Six Shooter's Caitlin Veitch, with most of the filming done by either the subjects themselves or members of the household.

Quinlan's distinctive sturdy vocals are complemented by the sparse but inventive production of Luke Doucet and the playing by two original members of NQ Arbuckle, Peter and Mark Kesper, and keyboard player Robbie Grunwald. Recorded at The Bathouse (the Tragically Hip's studio) in Kingston, ON, the track was mixed by Howie Beck. 

Doucet actually produced NQ Arbuckle's 2002 Six Shooter debut Hanging The Battle-Scarred Pinata. The band has not been the most prolific of combos since, but has earned two Juno nominations for its albums, and attracted a loyal following and plenty of peer respect.

Worthy of note is the fact that Quinlan is a popular veteran of the Toronto music industry, and the longtime head of the Canadian branch of famed music publisher Peermusic. We certainly hope there is more music on the way from one of our very best songsmiths.

Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Publicity: Emily Smart, Six Shooter