East is the latest album from Canadian alt-country singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge. Aptly titled, East was recorded in Nova Scotia, a far cry from the singer’s Toronto studio. The move spawned other changes as well. Rutledge’s new collaborations bringing in the musical talent the East Coast has to offer.
The string-heavy record tackles themes of romantic dissonance and loss. Opener “Unsettled” begins by looking at an impassioned relationship and the strain this leaves on a person’s psyche. These themes continue with “Almost Gone,” and lines like, “Somewhere deep inside this heart of mine/You and I still reside/I’ll be waiting on the other side/Keep your eyes open wide/You are almost leaving/You are almost gone.”
Another preoccupation in the album is the desire to uproot oneself. There is an acknowledgment that change and acceptance are intrinsic to contentment. Repeated images of water and car rides capture these ideas in a concrete way, pressing notions of rebirth and transition.
An important element of East is the use of harmonizing female vocal backings, which enhance the overall feel and tone. In “No One Knows” and “The Great Ascension,” they infuse Justin’s calming delivery with a gospel-like resonance. These tones balance the songwriter’s talents as a lyricist, leaving the listener with a haunting and affecting album.
