Have you heard of Ron Sexsmith?

[hypehat]

Is he good, or is he an underappreciated master of the kind music people tend to think doesn't exist anymore?

Inspired partly by the documentary on iPlayer where he appears to have no idea how much people rate him and thinks he sucks because the cultural void of mainstream radio doesn't play him, I thought I'd posit to the Smiley Smilers that Sexsmith is the best pop craftsman since Harry Nilsson retired and we don't really know how lucky we are to have this unassuming genius in our midst.

[pixletwin]

For some reason I used to get him mixed up with Elliott Smith. Not sure why though.

[hypehat]

No-one? Ahhh, sheesh. Don't see the Eliott Smith connection unless you're being lazy and saying they're both maudlin singer-songwriters. In which case, he is also Joey Ramone and BW.

Do yourself a favour and pick up as many records as you can. Beautiful music.

[Aum Bop Diddit]

I like what I've heard of him.  Saw a live video of him performing at Summer Stage in Central Park.  Not exactly power pop but  hooky and melodic songcraft well performed. 

[Amy B.]

I'm just seeing this thread. I love Ron Sexsmith. I discovered him at a show when he opened for...I want to say Ben Lee.  I have 2 or 3 of his albums and think, yes, he's an underappreciated/unknown songwriter of the kind people don't think exist anymore. Look him up, people!

[pixletwin]

Do you have a starting point to recommend? I am curious to give him a try.

[Amy B.]

Do you have a starting point to recommend? I am curious to give him a try.

"Blue Boy" is a little more polished with some great songs. For example, "This Song"--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZccEcewZeU

I really like "Other Songs." For example, "April After All"--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqnD5i3o088

[pixletwin]

Thanks Amy. Hearing his music for the first time it really makes me have to laugh that I used to confuse him with Elliott Smith.

[hypehat]

Getting back into him at the moment. Man, is he good. Who else?